Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
PLAYERS plying their trade in the local Premier Soccer League and Division One league affiliated to the Footballers’ Union of Zimbabwe (FUZ), have joined other professional footballers from around the globe to vote for the 2015 Fifa Fifpro World XI. FUZ president Desmond Maringwa said this is the first time lower division club players have been allowed to vote for the Fifa Fifpro World XI following an increase in their membership.
As of yesterday afternoon, players from seven PSL clubs, Harare City, Dynamos, Caps United, Flame Lily, Hwange, How Mine and Chicken Inn had cast their votes. Yadah Gunners from the Northern Region as well as Southern Region Soccer League champions Bulawayo City players also voted.
National team players in camp preparing for the African Nations Championship (Chan) also cast their vote yesterday. “Because of an increase in membership, Zimbabwe was given 750 ballots, up from the previous 500, and that is why we are including Division One teams. We are only giving two teams from each of the four Division One regions. We expect to be done with this process next week,” said Maringwa.
When all players have voted, FUZ will forward the ballots to the International Federation of Professional Footballers (Fifpro) head office in Netherlands next week.
According to fifa.com, the Fifa Fifpro World XI is chosen by over 50,000 professional football players from around the world. They vote for the best player in each position, which include a goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three strikers.
Fifty-five players will be shortlisted from which the world’s 11 best footballers will be revealed during the Fifa Ballon d’Or 2015 awards to be held on January 11 in Switzerland.
From 2005 to 2008, Fifpro organised its own World XI player award, with the same selection system.
In selecting their best 11, Fifpro members look at players’ contributions to their teams and titles won in the 2014-15 season.
They look at the most consistent players and those that performed at a high level throughout the year.
Fifa Ballon d’Or shortlist: Sergio Aguero (Argentina/Manchester City), Gareth Bale (Wales/Real Madrid), Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Real Madrid), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/VfL Wolfsburg/Manchester City), Eden Hazard (Belgium/Chelsea), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden/Paris Saint-Germain), Andres Iniesta (Spain/FC Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Germany/Real Madrid), Robert Lewandowski (Poland/FC Bayern Munich), Javier Mascherano (Argentina/FC Barcelona), Lionel Messi (Argentina/FC Barcelona), Thomas Muller (Germany/FC Bayern Munich), Manuel Neuer (Germany/FC Bayern Munich), Neymar (Brazil/FC Barcelona), Paul Pogba (France/Juventus), Ivan Rakitic (Croatia/FC Barcelona), Arjen Robben (Netherlands/FC Bayern Munich), James Rodriguez (Colombia/Real Madrid), Alexis Sanchez (Chile/Arsenal), Luis Suarez (Uruguay/FC Barcelona), Yaya Toure (Côte d’’Ivoire/Manchester City), Arturo Vidal (Chile/Juventus/FC Bayern Munich).
Fifa World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football shortlist: Massimiliano Allegri (Italy/Juventus), Carlo Ancelotti (Italy/Real Madrid), Laurent Blanc (France/Paris Saint-Germain), Unai Emery (Spain/Sevilla FC), Pep Guardiola (Spain/FC Bayern Munich), Luis Enrique (Spain/FC Barcelona), Jose Mourinho (Portugal/Chelsea), Jorge Sampaoli (Argentina/Chilean national team), Diego Simeone (Argentina/Atletico Madrid), Arsene Wenger (France/Arsenal)
