Rainford Kalaba will not be on the final row for the 2013 CAF awards on January 9 in Lagos.
The TP Mazembe and Zambia midfielder failed to make the final three-man shortlist for the 2013 African-based Player Award that was announced on Tuesday after making the last two elimination stages.
Kalaba has failed to make the cut together with his Mazembe club mate Tresor Mputu who made the penultimate selection phase after inspiring the DR Congo club to the final of the 2013 CAF Confederation Cup.
Mazembe eventually lost 3-2 on aggregate to CS Sfaxien of Tunisia in the final.
Meanwhile, holder Mohamed Aboutrika, who beat Kalaba and Stopilla Sunzu to the 2012 award, has yet again made the short list.
Aboutrika beat Kalaba and Sunzu to the award despite Egypt’s failure to qualify for the last two AFCON’s but for again another primarily outstanding performance in the CAF Champions League with his club Al Ahly.
Aboutrika will vie for the award against Super Eagles striker Sunday Mba, who like Kalaba and Sunzu in 2012, had an inspired 2013 AFCON with Nigeria.
Aboutrika’s clubmate Ahmed Fathy completes the short list for the best African-based Player Award.
you expected him to be there? he is not even on the africa top 20 for that matter
This list shouldn’t have contained any Zambian name in the first place. Our soccer has continued to decline- from an embarrassing AFCON first round exit to failing to qualify for the world cup by losin twice to Sudan and drawing in Maseru. Worst of all we couldnt even save face by way of qualifying for CHAN 2014. We further went on to humiliate ourselves more with a poor showing at CECAFA Finals.
Quite frankly, I do not find this surprising. He didn’t do enough in 2013 to have a chance of winning.
What has Kalaba done to even be on that list….lets be serious! !
was actually surprised to find him there. may be at TP he has doen quite well. alreday he is top scorer in lubumbashi or Congo north Premier league with 7goals.