The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and international interest.

Standard Group Plc HQ Office,
The Standard Group Center,Mombasa Road.
P.O Box 30080-00100,Nairobi, Kenya.
Telephone number: 0203222111, 0719012111
Email: [email protected]

NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

CAF AWARDS UPROAR: Toure blasts ‘indecent’ verdict as winner Aubameyang feted at home

Football

By AFP | Jan 10, 2016

Manchester City star Yaya Toure on Friday blasted the awarding of the African Player of the Year to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as “indecent” and claimed it brought “shame” on the continent.

Toure had been favourite to win the prize for a record fifth successive time having skippered the Ivory Coast to the Africa Cup of Nations title but he lost out to Gabon and Borussia Dortmund hotshot Aubameyang.

“It’s sad to see Africa react in this way, it does not give importance to African things,” 32-year-old Toure told Radio France International.

“This is what makes the shame of Africa. To behave in this way is indecent, but what can we do? We don’t show that Africa is important in our eyes.

“We give more priority to what is happening elsewhere than to our own continent. This is what is pathetic.”

Keep Reading

Aubameyang, 26, has scored 18 goals in 17 Bundesliga games this season.

He earned 143 points in a poll of African coaches, seven more than Toure. Ghana and Swansea City striker Andre Ayew was third on 112 points.

Ayew told lequipe.fr that he too was stunned by the award, believing Toure would win and he himself would be second having been top scorer at the Africa Cup of Nations where Ghana were runners-up.

“Attention, Aubameyang is a friend and he has had a great year,” said Ayew. “We must respect the competitions. If we Africans do not, who will? Frankly, it was Yaya or me this year ...”

At the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea last year, Gabon, skippered by Aubameyang, were eliminated in the first round. Toure even hinted at skulduggery in the voting process.

“Even FIFA with all of its history of corruption would not do this,” he said.

Toure added that there would be similar incredulity if the Ballon d’Or, to be awarded on Monday, came up with such a result.

“I will give you an example — Lionel Messi wins all the trophies but it’s Cristiano Ronaldo who gets the Ballon d’Or. What would you say?

It would be unfair.”

Meanwhile, Aubameyang received a hero’s homecoming in Libreville on Friday where he was hailed by thousands of fans as the pride of Gabon.

Gabon president Ali Bongo Ondimba posted photos of the player’s arrival on his Twitter account as he welcomed his compatriot to the presidential palace.

The president immediately conferred upon Aubameyang one of the country’s leading civil honours, Commander of the National Order of Merit. — AFP