by Abiodun Aremu

Why do Messi, Ronaldo and other overhyped players underperformed at global competitions when they are even confronted by lesser publicised and rated teams/players?

Shortly before the Eurocentric-propelled African Footballers awards took place recently, I discussed with a football enthusiast, questioning the rationale in determining African & World footballers of the Year based on football competitions in Europe.

An African footballer of the Year ought to be based on the performances of players (irrespective of their nationality) who partake in competitions based in Africa, i.e., African Cup of Nations, African World Cup & Olympic qualifiers, African Champion & Winner cups and African regional competitions.

If the competitions in Africa were used, there was no way Yahaya Toure and Mikel Obi would feature at all, even as finalists. Even Vincent Eyeama would have made the LIST above both winners. All the assessments used were based on their participation in Euro competitions.

Equally, the World Best Footballer of the Year should be chosen from among the best footballers in all the continents, i.e. from all d continents’ bests and using the added criteria of their performances in FIFA competitions – World Cup & Olympic qualifiers, FIFA Confederation Cup, World Cup, World Clubs Cup and FIFA rated international matches.

It is the height of absurdity and underdevelopment to crown a World Footballer based on Euro leagues & Champion cups; which is what will happen in few days to come.

And to sustain this warped dominant consciousness, TV rights controlled by Big Capital and businesses have been used to give prominence to Euro leagues. How many in Africa care to know the highest scorers in African, South American, Asian leagues? Why do Messi, Ronaldo and other overhyped players underperformed at global competitions when they are even confronted by lesser publicised and rated teams/players?

The true worth of a Global Award should be based on ALL ROUND competitions and not goals scored in Euro leagues. After all, Euro leagues do not qualify as FIFA competitions. This was the same backward consciousness that make people referred to the two European wars (1914 – 1919 & 1939 – 45) to economically and politically dominate the Rest of us as World War 1 & 2.

Long live the Fela Anikulapo – the Abami Eda who sang that: “United Nations sef Na Egbekegbe.

It is time to call CAF & FIFA to ORDER!

FIFA & CAF officials should await my protest letter soonest.

————————

This post is published with permission from Premium Times Newspapers

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.