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Yaya Toure's outburst says a lot about the way world sees Africa Yaya Toure's outburst says a lot about the way world sees Africa
(4 months later)
Yaya Toure is feeling a little bit irked. Not because he has been Yaya Toure is feeling a little bit irked. Not because he has been ruled out of the rest of the season with injury, but the Ivory Coast player says he believes African players are not recognised as much as they should be.
ruled out of the rest of the season with injury, but the Ivory Coast In a recent interview with Football Focus on BBC World News, Toure said he felt as though recognition for his efforts only came from fans. While his comments received much attention and excerpts were focused on, the actual interview itself was far tamer and came across more as a plea for recognising Africa as a growing continent.
player says he believes African players are not recognised as much as "To be honest, proper recognition has only come from the fans," said the three-time African player of the year, also voted BBC African footballer of the year in 2013. "I don't want to be hard and I don't want to be negative, but I want to be honest."
they should be. He echoed the claims of Manchester City teammate Samir Nasri, who had previously claimed, "if he wasn’t African, everyone would say he’s the best midfielder in the world."
In a recent interview with Football Focus on BBC World News, Toure To understand Toure’s comments, you have to understand Africa. As a continent still struggling to understand itself, divided by war, homophobic laws, hunger, strikes and violence, the desperate need to latch onto achievements is completely understandable. African football has had success through a number of players, but very few of those have been globally recognised. You only have to think back to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa to understand how most people across the continent will embrace their African identity, given half the chance (as fleeting and one-dimensional as that chance might be). With South Africa exiting the World Cup early on, most of the host country’s people latched onto Ghana and quaintly nicknamed them “BaGhana BaGhana”.
said he felt as though recognition for his efforts only came from fans. For Toure, players like him who emerge from Africa and achieve great things are paving the way for recognising that the continent is growing and achieving, something far away from the negative press which floods the headlines.
While his comments received much attention and excerpts were focused on, "I represent my country, but I also represent the continent of Africa when I play in Europe. That's why it's important to try to achieve something big. When we play at the World Cup, any African will back any African team. Because we want to hear the different approach to African football. We want to hear that Africans can do well and Africans do well,” Toure said.
the actual interview itself was far tamer and came across more as a Toure and his fellow Africans have received plenty of plaudits. Toure, Samuel Eto’o and Didier Drogba have been recognised for their achievements when it comes to rewarding players in Africa, but in Europe it’s somewhat different.
plea for recognising Africa as a growing continent. No African player has managed to win the EPL player of the month award this year and nobody managed it last season, either. In the 2011-12 season, Nigeria's Peter Odemwingie and Senegal's Demba Ba won it once apiece. Odemwingie also won the award once in the 2010-11 season. Perhaps most astoundingly, though, Didier Drogba never won the award in his eight years at Chelsea. Those might be a small sample group of stats, which can often fluctuate depending on who is in form, but it does add some context to Toure’s grievances.
"To be honest, proper recognition has only come from the fans," said The Ballon d'Or has only been won by an African player once, namely George Weah in 1995. Toure, Drogba and Samuel Eto'o have all been nominated, but have never made it into the top three. Toure and Drogba finished 8th and 12th for votes in the award in 2012, with Lionel Messi scooping the prize in the end. Of course that was a simple choice Messi is in a league of his own, but it is understandable that Toure feels an inkling of frustration.
the three-time African player of the year, also voted BBC African
footballer of the year in 2013. "I don't want to be hard and I don't
want to be negative, but I want to be honest."
He echoed the claims of Manchester City teammate Samir Nasri, who had
previously claimed, "if he wasn’t African, everyone would say he’s the
best midfielder in the world."
To understand Toure’s comments, you have to understand Africa. As a
continent still struggling to understand itself, divided by war,
homophobic laws, hunger, strikes and violence, the desperate need to
latch onto achievements is completely understandable. African football
has had success through a number of players, but very few of those have
been globally recognised. You only have to think back to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa to understand how most people across the
continent will embrace their African identity, given half the chance (as
fleeting and one-dimensional as that chance might be). With South
Africa exiting the World Cup early on, most of the host country’s people
latched onto Ghana and quaintly nicknamed them “BaGhana BaGhana”.
For Toure, players like him who emerge from Africa and achieve great
things are paving the way for recognising that the continent is growing
and achieving, something far away from the negative press which floods
the headlines.
"I represent my country, but I also represent the continent of Africa
when I play in Europe. That's why it's important to try to achieve
something big. When we play at the World Cup, any African will back any
African team. Because we want to hear the different approach to African
football. We want to hear that Africans can do well and Africans do
well,” Toure said.
Toure and his fellow Africans have received plenty of plaudits.
Toure, Samuel Eto’o and Didier Drogba have been recognised for their
achievements when it comes to rewarding players in Africa, but in Europe
it’s somewhat different.
No African player has managed to win the EPL player of the month
award this year and nobody managed it last season, either. In the
2011-12 season, Nigeria's Peter Odemwingie and Senegal's Demba Ba won it
once apiece. Odemwingie also won the award once in the 2010-11 season.
Perhaps most astoundingly, though, Didier Drogba never won the award in
his eight years at Chelsea. Those might be a small sample group of
stats, which can often fluctuate depending on who is in form, but it
does add some context to Toure’s grievances.
The Ballon d'Or has only been won by an African player once, namely
George Weah in 1995. Toure, Drogba and Samuel Eto'o have all been
nominated, but have never made it into the top three. Toure and Drogba
finished 8th and 12th for votes in the award in 2012, with Lionel Messi
scooping the prize in the end. Of course that was a simple choice –
Messi is in a league of his own, but it is understandable that Toure
feels an inkling of frustration.
He further added that African players weren’t as well-known as their European counterparts, despite their achievements.He further added that African players weren’t as well-known as their European counterparts, despite their achievements.
“If you go to any part of Africa now, people will say, ‘yes, we know “If you go to any part of Africa now, people will say, ‘yes, we know him [Messi]’,” Toure said. “But when you come to Europe and say ‘Yaya Toure’ people will say, ‘who is that?’ Some will say they know my name, but not my face. But they will know Messi’s face,” the Ivorian said.
him [Messi]’,” Toure said. “But when you come to Europe and say ‘Yaya Again, comparisons to Messi are unfounded. The Argentinian is arguably the most recognised player in the world. Some might scoff at his comments, others might even brush them off as racist, but that’s not the case.
Toure’ people will say, ‘who is that?’ Some will say they know my name, There is a desperate need for African players to still prove themselves and in the greater scheme of things, even those who have performed outstandingly probably haven’t received all the plaudits they deserve.
but not my face. But they will know Messi’s face,” the Ivorian said. Part of the desire for recognition beyond the big pay cheques and sponsorships is perhaps that the football journey for African players is vastly different to some players from continental Europe and South America. Forget the fact that Toure did not actually own a pair of football boots until he was ten years old; that’s normal.
Again, comparisons to Messi are unfounded. The Argentinian is “I just had a normal African childhood, we played football a lot, but it was always in the street and always without shoes. Boots were very expensive, and when there are seven in your family and you say you want to buy a pair, your father wants to kill you,” Toure once said.
arguably the most recognised player in the world. Some might scoff at Aside from struggles to get started growing up, once they clinch success, African players have to contend with racism. Toure in particular has been subject of frequent racist remarks. Despite all football’s preaching of creating unity, it still causes much division, but Toure wants to see that change, another reason why he is so desperate to be recognised.
his comments, others might even brush them off as racist, but that’s not “I am very proud to be African, I want to defend African people and I want to show to the world that African players can be as good as the Europeans and South Americans. I say this because I want the young guys who come to Europe to play in big clubs. I want to put them in the right position,” he said in the interview.
the case. Toure has had a solid season with Manchester City. Strong with a delicate touch and the knack for scoring goals, he's the blueprint for the perfect midfielder. Even though he can be inconsistent, or a liability at times, he is versatile and has been equally impressive for his native Ivory Coast. He's also in contention for the PFA Player of the Year award, alongside Steven Gerrard, Eden Hazard, Adam Lallana, Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez.
There is a desperate need for African players to still prove Suarez will most likely scoop the award and although Toure admitted it will be disappointing, he also said that he believes strikers tend to get more attention than midfielders. Toure will, no doubt, be left disappointed.
themselves and in the greater scheme of things, even those who have His comments about recognition, though, should not be taken out of context or as sour grapes. Instead, they are simply comments by an African desperate to prove that Africa is “up for it”, something which it is far too often told it’s not.
performed outstandingly probably haven’t received all the plaudits they
deserve.
Part of the desire for recognition – beyond the big pay cheques and
sponsorships – is perhaps that the football journey for African players
is vastly different to some players from continental Europe and South
America. Forget the fact that Toure did not actually own a pair of
football boots until he was ten years old; that’s normal.
“I just had a normal African childhood, we played football a lot, but
it was always in the street and always without shoes. Boots were very
expensive, and when there are seven in your family and you say you want
to buy a pair, your father wants to kill you,” Toure once said.
Aside from struggles to get started growing up, once they clinch
success, African players have to contend with racism. Toure in
particular has been subject of frequent racist remarks. Despite all
football’s preaching of creating unity, it still causes much division,
but Toure wants to see that change, another reason why he is so
desperate to be recognised.
“I am very proud to be African, I want to defend African people and I
want to show to the world that African players can be as good as the
Europeans and South Americans. I say this because I want the young guys
who come to Europe to play in big clubs. I want to put them in the right
position,” he said in the interview.
Toure has had a solid season with Manchester City. Strong with a
delicate touch and the knack for scoring goals, he's the blueprint for
the perfect midfielder. Even though he can be inconsistent, or a
liability at times, he is versatile and has been equally impressive for
his native Ivory Coast. He's also in contention for the PFA Player of
the Year award, alongside Steven Gerrard, Eden Hazard, Adam Lallana,
Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez.
Suarez will most likely scoop the award and although Toure admitted
it will be disappointing, he also said that he believes strikers tend to
get more attention than midfielders. Toure will, no doubt, be left
disappointed.
His comments about recognition, though, should not be taken out of
context or as sour grapes. Instead, they are simply comments by an
African desperate to prove that Africa is “up for it”, something which
it is far too often told it’s not.