Archive for the ‘Africans Abroad’ Category

Gervinho: a lighter man in orange

Posted: April 4, 2013 by Dante in Africans Abroad, Player of the Week
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Jonathan Wilson published an editorial during the 2013 African Cup of Nations in late January. The short piece highlighted the difference in Gervinho’s demeanour when playing for Arsenal and when playing for la Cote D’Ivoire.

Wilson concluded that Gervinho’s delicate mindset dramatically affects his form. Cote d’Ivoire deal with his shortcomings by sheltering him, but he’s often left stranded in front of Arsenal’s fickle 60 000 on Saturday afternoons.

Arsene Wenger commented on Gervinho’s psychological fragility in a recent post-match press conference:

“I believe that sometimes Gervinho has lost confidence because he played in a very negative atmosphere during a period. Strikers need confidence, and [with] his game, even more.”

So why is it that Gervinho is so diametrically different in Abidjan than at Ashburton Grove? A few factors come into play…

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The Riviera Guinean

Posted: January 6, 2013 by James in Africans Abroad, English Football
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Mo was a hit at Pride Park

February 13th 2010 was notable in my life not only for being my 19th birthday, but also a landmark moment in the history of Torquay United…OK, perhaps I’m exaggerating slightly. We didn’t get promoted or relegated. The result on that day wasn’t that special – a 2-1 home defeat to Port Vale. But it did see the home debut of two players who it’s fair to say didn’t see their best footballing days at Plainmoor. One was Ashley Barnes, now a prolific striker in the Championship for Brighton, who had joined on loan from Plymouth. The other was a man who had caused quite a stir when he was signed on a free transfer – Mohamed “Mo” Camara.

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50 of the Best African Players of 2012: 10-1

Posted: January 5, 2013 by Salim Masoud Said in African Football, Africans Abroad
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10. Christopher Katongo (Henan FC/Zambia) – It was the elder Katongo’s club form that saw him slip to 10th in our list. Katongo notched a respectable 9 goals for Chinese side Henan FC, but his contribution was not sufficient in salvaging his club’s fortune as they teetered down relegation avenue. On the international stage, Christopher Katongo was the vanguard of a once-in-a-lifetime cinderella story. He skippered the Chipolopolo to their first continental championship in Libreville-the exact location of the air disaster which stole the lives of 30 of the Copper Bullets’ finest 20 years earlier. A feat which saw him collect the BBC African Player of the Year award- the first ever granted to a Zambian player.

9. Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus/Ghana) -  ‘Kojo’, the former African Young Player of the Year (2010), has found development strikingly smooth. After blessing Francesci Guidolin’s midfield with industry and heart in Udine, Asamoah took to Turin in a brilliant career move. Asamoah snuck right into Conte’s 3-5-2 as a wing-back and carnage ensued. Kojo’s pace and power constitutes an immediate mismatch for opposing full-backs. Some liken him to Gareth Bale as his athleticism permits similar mazy runs. What’s certain is Juventus will miss the threat of their wing-back as Ghana look to capitalize on what could well be a world class player.

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50 of the Best African Players of 2012: 20-11

Posted: January 4, 2013 by SFG in African Football, Africans Abroad
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20. Emmanuel Clottey (Esperance/Ghana) – The  striker glittered the African Champions League for Berekum Chelsea with a plethora of icy-veined finishes which saw him record a peerless 12 goals, 6 more than his nearest challenger. A hat-trick against Egyptian giants Zamalek was a highlight, but his double to salvage a draw after Berekum Chelsea were 2-0 down in Lubumbashi versus TP Mazembe was his apogee; the equaliser a delightful left-footed curler into the far top corner. Such was his impact that the Blood and Gold of Esperance dished out $1.5m, a new Ghanaian transfer record fee, for his services. Continental excellence has deservedly seen him included in Ghana’s squad for the upcoming Afcon and with extra quality in his immediate vicinity, he may just give Ghana the lethality they have been longing for.

19. Arouna Kone (Wigan/Ivory Coast) – When Kone moved from Sevilla to Levante on loan after a five-year lull, very few believed he would come anywhere near close to triggering the clause that stated that if he scored 18 goals he would have to return to Seville. But by the end of the season Levante had to abstain from playing the Dennis Rodmaniac to avoid giving him back to Sevilla. Such form was long overdue for a player who had shown such promise at PSV in the mid 2000s. His summer move to Wigan has proved his previous season wasn’t a false reawakening. Direct with the ability to delicately link up play with those around him, he has been one of the signings of the season. His international hiatus has been broken and he has deservedly made the Ivory Coast squad for the upcoming Cup of Nations.

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50 of the Best African Players of 2012: 30-21

Posted: January 3, 2013 by Salim Masoud Said in African Football, Africans Abroad
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30. Andre Ayew (Olympique Marseille/Ghana) – In the Ayew household, football has always been a family matter. Andre’s father, Abedi Pele, was a veritable Ghanaian and Phoceen legend, so it was only fitting Andre follow in his footsteps. In Gabon/Equatorial Guinea, Ayew scored 2 goals, goading the Black Stars to the semi-finals. Ayew also maintained his respectable scoring record, netting 12 goals for club and country this calendar year. Bayern, Inter and Arsenal are all reported to have scouted the protege, but he remains faithful to Marseille for now.

29. Papiss Cisse (Newcastle/Senegal) – Known as “Toumboule” (The Effective One) back in Senegal, Cisse was particularly effective in the first half of the year as he assimilated seamlessly into English football after his transfer from Freiburg. Jetting in straight from Senegal’s shock early Afcon exit, Toumboule executed myriad finishes with frightening aplomb, notably a scorcher against Chelsea which, rumour has it, was so breath-taking that pharmacies reported an upsurge in demand for asthma inhalers. He hasn’t been so effective in the second half of the year, occasionally being deployed on the wing to accommodate Demba Ba, but the departure of his compatriot may just see him reawaken with his mojo. With 16 Premier league goals during 2012, only Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Sergio Aguero and Luis Suarez scored more.

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