Kekana up for FIFA award
Talismanic Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana midfielder, Hlompho Kekana, has called on support from the African continent to win the Puskás Award.
LIMPOPO – He has reiterated that he hopes the whole of Africa will vote for his wonder-goal against Cameroon so that he can become the first player from the continent to win the prestigious Fifa accolade.
Kekana’s magnificent strike from his own half in the 2-2 stalemate African Nations Cup qualifier for South Africa in March has been selected by Fifa, the world football governing body, as one of the 10 best goals scored in the world in 2016.
Kekana is still brimming with buoyancy after leading the Pretoria-based Brazilians to a historic Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) Champions League as the club’s captain. His 65-yard goal against Cameroon earned him a nomination for the award.
He faces a stern challenge is he will be up against nine other footballers including Argentina’s Lionel Messie and Brazil’s Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, better known as Neymar.
Among the legion of devotees who have pledged support for the Zebediela-born maestro is the MEC for Sport, Onicca Moloi, who is encouraging all South African compatriots to vote for Kekana to help him scoop the top Fifa award.
“Our golden boy is on the verge of winning the Puskás Award 2016 for his stunning goal of March 26, during the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between South Africa and Cameroon.
“The 31-year-old lad from the citrus hub of has made history by becoming South Africa’s first footballer to ever get nominated for this esteemed award.”
Kekana is also the only African based player among all the ten nominees for 2016.
“We’re urging every South African to rally behind one of our stars. A win for Hlompho Kekana will be a win for the nation. His nomination certainly reaffirms that our boys can hold their own despite tough competition,” said Moloi, who reminisced that: “In September this year, Hlompho was among the sportsmen and women who were honoured for their excellence in sport by our province of Limpopo. We are delighted that the decision to honour him is today being validated by the world football governing body.”
Moloi added. “With just a click, you can help make Hlompho Kekana’s superb goal become the best in the world.”
How to vote:
Go to www.fifa.com website.
Then click on the “They scored, now You vote” link.
Proceed to click the “FIFA Puskás Award 2016” link. Immediately, you’ll have a list of 10 candidates.
To vote for Kekana, click on the blue line beneath his picture.
