By Jacob Ajom

It was a gathering of soccer stars. Stars who played the game, those who are still playing and others who are running the game.

Not surprisingly, there was so much glitz as the atmosphere glittered. The maiden FIFA Best Awards which held Monday, January 9, 2017, at the Zurich TPC studios (Technology and Production Centre), Switzerland was a meeting point for fashion, glamour and sports. Indeed, it was so, so magnificent. The ceremony was brief but colourful.

Aware of the interest from the media across the world, organisers commenced early with the Green Carpet. Significantly, on the green carpet – which represents a football turf – was a miniature goal post, the type Nigerian players call monkey post and some balls strewn across the expansive hall.

The balls were so tempting that former Argentina iconic captain, Amanda Diego Maradona could not help but perform a few tricks with one before going to take his seat.

American group Naturally 7 got the ceremony started with a remixed rendition of Phil Collins’ classic In the Air. In three minutes, their performance was over and the first award, FIFA FIFPRO Team of the year was announced. In another four minutes, the next award, the FIFA Fans Award was announced. This went to Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool fans.

Several other awards, interspersed with musical interlude followed and in one hour, the whole event was over. Millions of television viewers across the globe were left yearning for more as the sight of former football stars brought back fond memories to fans.

Coming just days after the 2016 Glo-CAF Awards, the FIFA event reminded us all of how events are organised in Africa. From its name to the final detail, the FIFA awards were in sharp contrast with what was witnessed in Abuja last Thursday.

To start with, FIFA ensured its numerous sponsors remained anonymous as none was given a mention nor were there any banners to activate their visibility. That was the exact opposite of the CAF Awards. There was no hiding the fact that in Africa, he who pays the piper dictates the tune.

Globacom, the event sponsors virtually took over everywhere. But down in Africa one can understand that. No one should deny them that. But the organisation of the event left much to be desired. Long speeches from company boss and directors, where their marketing expertise was expressly promoted.

Company chiefs seized the opportunity to render to the world a compilation of the achievements of their company. And they were no mean strides.

Unlike the FIFA Best Awards where former football icons took the centre stage as the likes of Maradona, Frank Rijkard, Marco van Basten, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo de Lima, etc., organisers of the Glo-CAF Awards ensured the presentation of awards was done by either company directors or politicians.

The FIFA awards were presented by former soccer idols. And Africa boasts numerous former soccer idols who are respected the world over. Ex-players like George Opong Weah (a former CAF, European and FIFA Footballer of the Year), Abedi Pele, Roger Milla, Christian Chukwu, Segun Odegbami, Rabah Madjer, and a host of others across Africa were not seen at the Glo-CAF Awards.

To reduce costs Africa’s legends could be invited from Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast and other near countries. That meant nothing to the organisers.

The musical interludes at the CAF awards were unduly long and boring. Indeed, some observers called the annual event a Globacom Music and Award Concert.

Prominent African musicians performed on the night and the list included Afro beat musician Femi Kuti. Others were Nigerian recording artist, dancer, Chinedu Okoli, popularly called Flavour N’abania, Diamond Platinumz, Bongo Flava a recording artist and singer from Tanzania and one of Nigeria’s most prominent female singers, Omawumi.

Also on the show were South African chart busting electric soul singers, Muffinz, Sessime, a songwriter, performer and singer, generally regarded as the new star of afropoprock in Benin Republic, and Nigeria’s Afro-pop singer, Yemi Alade. At the FIFA Awards, only two groups performed in a combined time of just about 15 minutes.

Organisers of the CAF Awards are not time conscious, they lack probity as there is so much waste in terms of the carnival-like atmosphere that at times border on obscenity, extravagance and irrelevance. In fact, the Glo CAF Awards lack precision. They must not copy FIFA Awards in everything but with proper planning, the Glo-CAF Awards could be summed up within one and a half hours. Number of musicians and speeches can be reduced.

The advantages would be enormous. It will be compact. In these austere times, the cost would drastically be reduced and there would be better media coverage of the event.

The involvement of ex footballers of African origin will add credibility to the event. In summary, the annual CAF Footballer of the Year Awards should be re-branded to look like a truly football event and not like a musical or dancing carnival.