Ronny Lusurile,
Glo CAF Awards will be held on Thursday January 5, 2017, Abuja, Nigeria where the cream of African football will be fated.
The Player of the Year based in Africa award, given to the most outstanding footballer plying his trade within Africa will be a key battle ground.
CAF recently released the final short list of five players in the category, with four coming from African champions Mamelodi Sundowns to challenge for the accolade. Amongst whom are goalkeeper Denis Onyango, Keegan Dolly, Hlompho Kekana and Khama Billiat ( Mamelodi Sundowns), and Rainford Kalaba (TP Mazembe).
Soka25east.com analyses chances of constests bagging the gong based on their 2016 performance for both club and country.
Denis Onyango,
If there is a year the lanky custodian wouldn’t forget then that must be 2016.
Onyango guided Mamelodi Sundowns to ABSA Premier league glory and was voted keeper of the season for his exploits. He single handedly steered Sundowns to Telekom Knockout Cup title against rivals Kaizer Chiefs, in a match he saved two penalties from Chiefs skipper Siphiwe Tshabalala and Togolese forward Camaldine Abraw. However,the biggest of them all was winning the African champions league – beating Egyptian giants Zamalek 3-1 aggregate.
At the national level, he guided Uganda Cranes to the AFCON 2017 in 38 years.
The former Supersport custodian has also been a key figure in Cranes’ Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers, where they are still alive.
Keegan Dolly,
Dolly alongside Khama Billiat and Leonard Castro has formed deadly trio that remains a serious threat to opponents.
His great goals guided Sundowns to the ABSA Premier League title, Telekom Knock out Cup and CAF Champions League. On the national level, he wasn’t so effective for Bafana Bafana as he was some times overlooked by coach Shakes Mashaba.
Khama Billiat,
The reigning ABSA Premiership most valuable player has been a revelation – scoring and assisting goals throughout Sundowns campaign both domestically and in the continent.
At the national level, he was part of Zimbabwe team that qualified for the AFCON 2017 against all odds.
Hlompho Kekana,
Just like Onyango, Dolly and Khama, Kekana was influential at Mamelodi Sundowns but not as much effective for South Africa national team Bafana Bafana.
Rainford Kalaba,
The Zambian skipper is a major challenger for the award. He guided DR Congo heavyweights TP Mazembe side CAF Confederations triumph – bagging golden boot award with eight goals.
He also won domestic league with the “Ravens.”
