Football: Gervinho earns award nomination

Gervinho included in the 10-man shortlist for the African Footballer of the Year award.

LONDON: Gervinho has spoken of his pride at being included in the 10-man shortlist for the African Footballer of the Year award. The 24-year-old forward has been rewarded for an outstanding 12 months in which he helped Lille to the Ligue 1 title in France before securing an £11 million move to Arsenal. The Ivory Coast international has made an impressive start to life at the Emirates Stadium, scoring twice and providing five assists in nine Premier League matches. All this has helped put him in the running for African football's most prestigious individual award. "It would mean a lot to win," said Gervinho. "Every African player dreams of winning this award."

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2011.