The international football players’ union, dubbed FIFPro, last Monday organised the inaugural World XI Awards in a ceremony in London. Highlight of the event was the release of the world dream team, or the World XI line up. The list of 11 was voted by football professionals through the global umbrella organisation of players’ unions.
Between April and July, this year, 38,000 professional footballers, who belong to 40 player organisations across the world, voted in a secret ballot to select the world 2004-2005 season’s best team from a shortlist of 55 top names.
Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o Fils is the only African in the inaugural world team of the year. He leads the attack, together with Ukrainian born AC Milan striker, Andriy Shevchenko. The election in the World XI line up, coming from his peers, can be considered the icing on Eto’o’s cake. It is a great recognition of the imbued talents of the ace striker. « There are no greater football critics than the players themselves. To be recognised by your fellow professionals from across the world is a unique honour. While we respect the many other football awards that are handed out I think it is special to see these results, the very first ballot among the world’s players, » FIFPro president, Gordon Taylor said.
Eto’o used his award as an opportunity to speak out against some of the current problems affecting football. « The important thing is that all the players stick together to fight against bad influences in football, » the 24-year-old said. Referring to the blight of racism, the reigning African Player of the Year said it was « not a problem » for him. « I can be booed on the pitch and clapped off it, » he explained. « The problem is the kids on the streets who are the same colour as me. If we are united to fight against these things we can make them better, » Eto’o lamented.
Meanwhile, Eto’o’s team mate, Ronaldinho was elected the first FIFPro world player of the year, while Pele was honoured with the FIFPro legend award.
TCHE Irene MORIKANG
