Lungile Madywabe profiles four of the top footballers who will be thrilling soccer fans in the African Nations Cup
SOME of the world’s greatest players will from this weekend grace South African soccer pitches. This is despite the debacle surrounding the withdrawal of champions
Nigeria have the largest contingent of players plying their trade in Europe, but the 15 nations taking part in the tournament are packed with players who are playing for top overseas clubs.
As the world’s leading clubs broaden their search for talent, Africa has become a good hunting ground for them, and stars from many poor African countries are now earnning fortunes with the rich European clubs.
The most well known of these is George Weah, who is having a great season with Italy’s AC Milan. Since re-admission, South Africa has also exported many local stars with John “Shoes” Moshoeu, playing in Turkey, being the the most expensive player.
GEORGE WEAH (Liberia)
GEORGE APPONG WEAH is simply the best player on earth at the moment.World soccer’s governing body, Fifa, confirmed that on Monday when Weah was voted World Player of the Year.
He has played much of his football outside his war-torn country, starring for a French club before moving to the Italian Serie A giants AC Milan. But Weah’s love for Liberia has led him to contribute some of his earning towards the national team and he has inspired them to their first appearance in the African nations
National coach Wilfred Lardner knows that in Weah he has someone around whom he can build a strong team capable of upsetting the tournament’s favourites. Liberian minister of sport Francois Massaquoi said: “He has shown the world that Liberians are not just killers, but also decent people with talent and mastery of certain crafts.”
With Nigeria out of the finals and Weah leading their attack, Liberia have a good chance of advancing to the knockout stage of the tournament.
ANTHONY YEBOAH (Ghana)
ANTHONY YEBOAH has not lost the goal touch that prompted England’s Leeds United to pay $3,4-million to Eintracht Frankfurt for his services. He was a prolific goalscorer in the German Bundesliga and Yeboah’s continued appetite for what he is paid to do earned him the goal of the month award in September and October last year.
Asked about his much-publicised squabble with team captain Abedi “Pele” Ayew, he said: “Blown out of propotion”. However, Ghana ‘s failure in Tunisia 94 was attributed to internal quarrels. Having failed in two previous tournaments, Yeboah knows that this may be his last chance. The 30-year-old striker has a lethal shot with both feet and if his 25-yard scorchers do not elude him, he may be the top goal scorer of the tournament.
DOCTOR KHUMALO (SA)
WAY back in 1992 in Zimbabwe, when South Africa were beaten 4-1 in a African Nations Cup qualifier, the most talked about player then was Doctor Khumalo (right), with the Zimbabweans dubbing him a “nurse”. He has come a long way since then, and has put in some assured and skillful performances for the national team.
The Kaizer Chiefs idol always plays in patches but with a strong contingent around him he can rise to the occasion.
He spent the latter part of last year rueing a botched deal with a club in Argentina but next seasonhe is likeley to play in the revamped American league. Khumalo will be looking to make a big impression at this tournament so that he can clinch himself a better deal in a more competitive league than the United States.
KALUSHA BWALYA(Zambia)
TEAM captain Kalusha Bwalya will best be remembered for leading Zambia to the finals of the 1994 tournament in Tunisia against Nigeria after he was one of the survivors of the 1993 plane crash in Gabon which killed all but three members of the national squad. “Great Lusha” is still with us today because he simply missed the flight.
Those who saw the 1994 finals will remember how close Bwalya came to equalising in the final against Nigeria, hitting the crossbar with a 40m drive.
The 33-year-old Bwaly is currently playing for Club America in Mexico and with Johnson Bwalya and Kenneth Malitoli alongside him, this left- footed midfielder could give goalkeepers a hard time. Having come that close in Tunisia with a makeshift squad, this time around they may hit the jackpot.