MOHAMED Barakat, the star footballer for Egypt and Ahli, has been selected the 2005 BBC African Player of the Year. More than 15,000 listeners of the BBC World Service's African sports show Fast Track as well as visitors to the BBC's African football website voted for the Egyptian player before the 31 December deadline. The 29-year-old midfielder won the award ahead of Cameroon's Samuel Eto and Obafemi Martins of Nigeria who finished third. A total of five players made the shortlist for the award but neither Ghana's Michael Essien nor the 2004 winner, Jay-Jay Okocha of Nigeria, made the top three. "I don't know what to say. I was surprised when the club's board member Khaled Mortagi told me I had won the award," Barakat said. "I have been playing well during the past year, but to win the BBC international award as the best player in Africa wasn't in my calculations. When I play I never think of what to win but to win the match I'm playing in. I never thought of a reward. "I would like to thank all those who voted for me in Africa and Egypt." "I didn't believe it except when the BBC people called to tell me the news," Mortagi told Al-Ahram Weekly. "I listened to the announcement that was live on the show. It's an honour for the club and Barakat to win such a prestigious award, beating international figures as Eto, Martins and Essien." He said Barakat deserved winning the title because he had played a remarkable year with the club. "He is the club's main player. He is such a talented, skillful and world class player," Mortagi said. Barakat will receive his award during a ceremony which the BBC will hold in Cairo on the sidelines of the 25th Africa Cup of Nation which begins 20 January. When announcing Barakat as the winner, the BBC website described him as the outstanding Pharaoh. Adds BBC sports editor Farayi Mungazi: "12 December 2005 will be remembered as the day Egypt's Mohamed Barakat proved his class." Mungazi was among the commentary team that day attending the final of the African Champions League final in which Ahli beat Tunisia's Etoile du Sahel 3-0 in Cairo. "On a high-octane night in Cairo, Barakat used his sharp football brain to devastating effect as Ahli claimed their fourth African champions title," Mungazi said. "Though slight of build, Barakat has proved remarkably resilient and was the rock on which Ahli not only built their Champions League success but also crafted their 55-game unbeaten run," a world record. Mungazi had previously told the Weekly that Barakat was one of the favourites to win the title. He said he was leading Eto and Martins and, surprisingly that most of the votes going to Barakat weren't just from Egyptians but from other African countries, especially Nigeria. Mungazi confirmed his belief that Barakat deserved to be the winner. "Barakat's hallmarks are surging runs from midfield which often disrupt opposing defences as well as a box-to-box work ethic which makes him an important figure both in defence and attack. "It is, therefore, my considered view that Barakat is a worthy winner of the BBC African Footballer of the Year award." Mungazi wonders why the player has never attracted European attention. "European club football may, for no obvious reason, have eluded him thus far but the Egyptian international is undoubtedly one of the finest midfielders around. "If Egypt manage to improve on their poor recent record at international level (the country failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany) and win a record fifth Nations Cup title, I have no doubt that Barakat will have something to do with it," Mungazi added. Barakat started playing football as a midfielder in Sekka Club in Cairo before moving to Ismaili club of Ismailia. His talent was nurtured and he soon became one of the big soccer names in the country. However, he was injured for some time and most people, critics and officials believed the player's best days were behind him. He continued to play with stints in Al-Arabi club of Qatar and Ahli Jeddah of Saudi Arabia. There, Barakat surprised by leading the two teams to success. Ahli sought him out and his services for the red shirts helped them win the domestic league in his first season for the club after a four-year hiatus. Head coach of Ahli Club Manuel Jose of Portugal sings Barakat's praises. "I've always believed in him and I have said this several times, even when others doubted that he might be able to continue playing," Jose said before the team left to take part in the FIFA World Clubs Championship in Japan last month. "He is the team's key player. He has the ability to lead the team to success even at crucial times. He spreads morale and enthusiasm in the team. When he is on the pitch I'm always confident. I am not surprised he won the title," Jose said. Since playing for the national team in 2000, Barakat has scored eight goals in 54 international matches. He took part in two previous African Nations Cup in Mali 2002 and Tunisia 2004. Egyptians are depending on him to lead the Pharaohs in winning a fifth title. The CAF African Player of the Year is still to be selected. Eto, Essien and Didier Drogba of Ivory Coast and Chelsea are the favourites.
