Enyeama & Neuer: The Year of the Goalkeeper?

 

The men between the sticks rarely get the recognition they deserve, but could that all be about to change as we enter the awards season?

FEATURE
By Kunle Fayiga

Whenever the 23-man shortlist for the FIFA Ballon D’Or is produced, it features players of all positions.

When it is down to the final three, it typically comprises offensive players. Only in a few cases were defenders and goalkeepers shortlisted in the final three.

AC Milan Legend Paolo Maldini was a finalist in 1995, claiming second spot. Former Azzuri captain Fabio Cannavaro claimed the award in 2006, beating ex-Le Bleus star and three-time winner Zinedine Zidane. The other non-attack minded player to make the final three was former German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn in 2002. He took second place on the back of a splendid World Cup in South Korea/Japan, which Germany lost out toBrazil in the final. Brazil’s Ronaldo, who scored two goals past Kahn in the final, claimed his third World Player of the Year crown.

The 2014 FIFA Ballon D’Or features Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, with regular finalists Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi and Ronaldo have arguably been the best players in the game in the last decade. Both have appeared as finalists 13 times between 2007 and 2013.

Neuer makes the list at the back of a successful World Cup campaign where he made many fantastic saves which helped Germany to lift their third title. He was also in superb form for Bayern Munich last season.

Does Neuer deserve the lift the award on Monday, January 12, 2015 in Zurich?

Neuer | The world's greatest team, is he the world's greatest player?

He certainly does even in the stern battle against the world’s two best players. 

Attackers have made the final three most of the time because they are the entertainers in the game, scoring fantastic goals and displaying awesome skill and technique. However, the impact of goalkeepers should not be underestimated. Stoppers do more than enough to be regular contenders for the Ballon D’Or.

The likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Iker Casillas, Edwin van der Sar, Petr Cech are just some of the names who have done exceptionally well and who should have at least made the final three at one time or the other over the last several years. Unfortunately this was never to be. 

This indeed might be Neuer’s chance to break the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly. With the exception of 2010, the Ballon D’Or has been given to a player that won the World Cup. Since Neuer represents the winning German team, it’s as good as saying he is the winner based on that trend but will the award follow the trend this time around?

Back home in Africa, we have Nigeria’s very own Vincent Enyeama is a finalist for the CAF African Footballer of the Year.

Enyeama | Can he claim another award this week?

He competes for the ultimate price against three-time winner Yaya Toure and Gabonese forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Enyeama was arguably the best Nigerian player in a mixed 2014 for the Super Eagles.

His exploits at the World Cup in Brazil pushed Nigeria to the last 16. Had it not been for him, the Super Eagles might not have equalled their best-ever tournament progression. 

His performances for his club, French side LOSC Lille during the 2013-2014 season were nothing short of excellent and he helped the Mastiffs to the His superb performances earned him the Ligue 1 African Player of the Year award. He also bagged the Goal Nigeria Player of the Year award and was recently named the Best Goalkeeper in French football during 2014.

Goal Nigeria’s Ed Dove celebrated Enyeama for his consistency and his ability to impact the big games. Even though the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the Afcon tournament in Equatorial Guinea, Enyeama was crucial in ensuring the quest for qualification was taken down to the wire. “Indeed,” as Dove asked, “would Nigeria have lost at home to the Republic of Congo at the beginning of the qualification campaign had Enyeama, rather than Austin Ejide, been between the sticks?”

Enyeama, just like Neuer, deserves to be celebrated above his outfield rivals during the awards season.

No keeper has been shortlisted in the final three since the award began in 1992. Current Morocco manager Badou Zaki is the only goalkeeper in Africa to win the award for Best African player. He won this when the award was still run by France Football Magazine. The award ran from 1970 till 1994. Within that period, a few keepers such as Robert Mensah, Kazadi Mwamba, Thomas N’Kono and Joseph-Antoine Bell made the final three.

If Enyeama and Neuer succeed in claiming the award in Lagos and Zurich respectively, it might give rise to greater recognition for goalkeepers. It’s about time the custodians between the sticks got the acknowledgement they deserve…could they receive it this year?