BBC AFRICAN FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR: SAMUEL OSEI KUFFOUR

Ghanaian international defender Samuel Osei Kuffour has been voted the BBC’s African Footballer of the Year by enthusiastic fans in the run up to the African Cup of Nations, which kicks off in Mali on 19 January 2002.

The 25 year old won 55% of the vote in a special poll conducted by the BBC Sport Online website, www.bbc.co.uk/africanfootball and the BBC World Service African programme Fast Track.

The runners up were Sierra Leone’s international Mohammed Kallon of Inter Milan and Senegal’s Hadj Diouf of the French league leaders Lens.

Nearly 5000 people world-wide voted by post and email for the Bayern Munich defender who is now in Mali, preparing with Ghana’s Black Stars team for their first African Cup of Nations match against Morocco on 21 January. The team are also drawn against South Africa and Burkina Faso.

Hearing of the award Samuel Osei Kuffour said: “I feel honoured to have been chosen for this Award. Africa has so many great players, but God has said this is the year for Samuel Osei Kuffour.”

The former shoe-shine boy was encouraged to play by his mother Gloria, her self a goal-keeper with a ladies team in their home-town of Kumasi in Ghana. She was so determined on her only-son’s future that she sold the families black and white television to buy his first football boots. She explains: “I know that by the grace of God it will help me and my family.”

Full details of the Award and extensive coverage of the African Cup of Nations can be found on the website: www.bbc.co.uk/africanfootball Follow matches, news and highlights on BBC World Service and Match of the Day on BBC TWO. The final will be shown live. In addition, the website will ‘clockwatch.’ This meant football fans can log onto the site when a match kicks off and by hitting the refresh button regularly, will be able to see updated match reports at five minute intervals.

17 January 2001 For further information, please contact: BBC Sport Publicity, 020 8624 8210