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The continent of Africa has for some time produced a number of fine sportspersons who have gone to conquer the world. We have our own heroes from Zimbabwe, but we also take pride in our brothers and sisters from fellow African countries who have brought success to mother Africa.
In as much as we have our antagonism with our erstwhile colonisers, Britain, we have somehow fallen in love with their football and at times, we find ourselves talking more about it than our local league. One of the reasons why we have fallen in love with it, apart from exposure, is that it gives the platform to our African brothers to shine at the big stage and show the world that we are capable like any other race under the sun.
When the world was still gasping for breath after a wonder goal by Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale against Barcelona that won them the Spanish cup final when he sprinted half the pitch to score a solo effort, Cote d’Ivoire’s Yaya Toure was quick to remind the world of the gem found in Africa. His wonder goal on Wednesday against Aston Villa epitomised all what Toure stands for, speed, stamina, power and finesse, and above all, scored a goal that was celebrated across Africa even by those who do not support Manchester City.
Sports Mail said it was so fitting Manchester City’s majestic Toure scored their 100th league goal to start title party. They rightly acknowledge that the African is the cornerstone of that mega rich English club, which is about to win the league for the second time in three seasons, and might be Footballer of the Year if voting closed this Sunday.
Yet many neutrals believe Toure was the best player in England this season, the best attacking midfielder the world over with 20 goals under his belt. And he also believes he faired much better than Liverpool’s Louis Suarez, who scooped the Player of the Year prize and Chelsea’s Eden Hazard, who came second. Of course, Suarez was brilliant, hungry for success and scoring like a machine, making it a close fight with Toure for the big one.
Toure said last month that he was not mentioned in the same breath as players such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo because he was African.
“If you go to any part of Africa now, people will say, ‘Yes, we know Messi,” Toure said. “But when you come to Europe and say ‘Yaya Toure’ people will say, ‘Who is that?’ “Some will say they know my name but not know my face. But they will know Messi’s face.”
It must be some competition, the English top flight, if a midfielder can score 20 league goals in a potentially title-winning campaign, display such power, strength, vision and skill and yet only be third in the queue. And I tend to support the Ivorian when he says he missed out on becoming the first African to be crowned the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year because of his nationality.
“There is also an element of style of substance at play here. It is blindingly obvious that Luis Suarez is a prodigiously talented footballer: nippy, deft, clinical and exciting to watch. But the Toure machine takes a little longer to wind up. He trundles around the pitch at times, his heavy frame looking more likely to succumb to injury than make a match-winning difference. But it is that burst of pace that makes him such a wonderful player. He simply has a higher gear than most of those around him,” said the Sports Mail.
Former French international Patrick Vieira believes the African is the best player.
“Look at what Yaya has done in his years at City — he is the biggest big-game player in the Premier League. In the Capital One Cup final this season, we were losing against Sunderland and things were very difficult, but then Yaya scored an unbelievable goal and we go on to win the trophy. That was the mark of a player — but Yaya does that in every big game. He makes the difference.”
And on Wednesday, the game had seeped into stoppage time and Manchester City had taken a giant leap closer to the title. They were 3-0 up and Aston Villa were well beaten when Toure got the ball deep in his own half and set off from 60 metres away from goal.
“There are few finer sights in the Premier League than Toure in full flow. He is speed and grace and power personified. He ran and he ran and the Villa defenders could not get near him. He outstripped them all. When keeper Brad Guzan came out to meet him, Toure stroked the ball past him into the back of the net. It was City’s 100th league goal of the season and there could have been no finer way to reach the landmark. More than that, though, it was a symbol of the champagne football that has taken the Eastlands club to the brink of their second title in three years.” City are expected to wrap up the title chase with a win this weekend.
Closer to home, our home grown talent, led by legendary Peter Ndlovu, illuminated the scene when Mamelodi Sundowns won the league title in South Africa with a lot of effort from Zimbabwean stars like Khama Billiat and Cuthbert Malajila. Veteran Esrom Nyandoro also played a part and we salute them, alongside legendary Madinda Ndlovu, who won another league title in Botswana as coach.
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