SFG were spoilt for choices for the Player of the Week gong after the superabundance of outstanding performances. On Friday, it seemed Al Hilal attacking midfielder Mudathir ‘Karika’ El Tahir’s glittering first-half display that mutilated Inter Luanda 3-0 in the CAF Confederations Cup, Africa’s equivalent of the Europa League, had already raised the bar too high. But several other contenders arose during the weekend – Ahmed Musa continued putting in impressive shifts for CSKA Moscow as a makeshift centre forward; Mbark Bossoufa managed 4 assists and a goal in Anzhi's victory 5-2 over Krasnodar; Zamalek's Mohamed Ibrahim was outstanding throughout the Egyptian Derby and scored with a wonderful solo effort; and the Berekum Chelsea trio of Richard Kissi Boateng, Jordan Opoku and inspired goalkeeper Collins Addo were terrific in Chelsea’s slaying of TP Mazembe in the CAF Champions League.

The decision was difficult, then, but on the basis of the quality of his brace in Lorient’s 2-1 away win against Rennes, the occasion (a local derby) and the importance of the goals (they ultimately gave Lorient the framework for their win after being down to 9 men for much of the game), the SFG Player of the Week is Alain Traore. A summer acquisition from the relegated Auxerre, the staggering technique for both goals, which were no flukes to anyone who has witnessed Traore strike a football, and his rich vein of form for his new club have continued to add positivity the hypothesis that the Burkinabe star, signed for just €2m, is the bargain buy of the summer.