Frédéric Kanouté: Football is a sport of humble countries, not rich nations!

Date Of Birth: 02/09/1977

Place Of Birth:Sainte-Foy-lés-Lyon

Age: 34

Martial Status:Married,Father of 3         Nationality: Mali

Height: 1.91m

Weight: 82 kg

Previous Clubs: Olympique Lyon, West Ham, Tottenham Hotspur

Current Club: Sevilla Fc

Achievements: African Footballer of the Year 2007 UEFA Cup, Copa Del Rey, UEFA Super Cup, Supercopa de Espana 

Frederic Oumar Kanoute, lives in Sevilla(Spain) with his wife and three children. A French born Mali International, Kanoute announced his conversion to Islam in the year 1999 and named himself as Frederic Oumar Kanoute. Since then, Kanoute has been a devoted Muslim and has practised it hand in hand with his football career. 

He started his football career at Olympique Lyon's academy and was later promoted to the first team. Having played for a year at Lyon, Kanoute did not experience the best of relations with then Lyon coach Bernand Lancombe and that hastened his loan move to West Ham United.
 

Kanoute initially joined West Ham on Loan

 Kanoute was an instant hit at Upton Park as he scored on his début against Wimbeldon and scored in the 5-0 win over Coventry. His partnership with Di Canio was proving to be deadly and that persuaded Harry Redknapp to sign him permanently. 

Kanoute's goal celebrations seem simple but are very unique. He would always raise his right index finger up and look up a little as a gesture to always remember God. He would open his palms marking the movement of Muslims during prayer. 

Kanoute scored 12 goals in his first season, but that didn't prevent West Ham from being relegated from the Premier League in the year 2000. That however, did not demotivate Kanoute and he bagged a total of 17 goals for West Ham in the next 2 years and started attracting interest from Tottenham Hotspurs, who at the end of the 2002-2003 season, signed him for £3.5million. 

Kanoute at Spurs...

Kanoute's career at Spurs was a mixed affair, he bagged a total of 12 goals in all competitions in his first season. This earned him  his first international call up for Mali and he was part of the team that represented Mali in AFCON. He was the joint top scorer for Mali having scored four goals in four games and led his team to the Semis where they eventually lost to Morocco.

On his second season as a Spurs player, Kanoute managed to score a total of 9 goals in all competitions having played 41 games. This wasn't received well by the supporters and the managers, hence his stay at Spurs was nearing an end, and he was eventually sold to Sevilla in 2005 for €6.5million.  

Kanoute joined Sevilla after a disappointing season at Spurs

Kanoute's transfer to Sevilla meant he had changed three clubs over a span of seven years. The move to Sevilla seemd to be ideal at that time and he was tipped to great success by many. 

Kanoute made his debut for Sevilla as a second half substitute in 2006 UEFA Cup Final against Middlesbrough and scored in the 89th Minute. Sevilla won the game 4-0 and were crowned UEFA Cup Champions. 


From then on, there was nothing that could stop Kanoute, his performances were impressive as he scored vital goals for Sevilla, not forgetting the penalty against Spurs that won Sevilla the game with a 4-3 scoreline. 

Sevilla's kit sponsors were 888.com, a gambling institution, something that is prohibited in Islam. This forced Kanoute to abandon wearing the jersey, which meant that the club had to give him a brand-free jersey every match, until he accepted wearing the sponsored jersey in return for money to an Islamic charity. The club agreed to exclude him from any promotional campaigns that involved the gambling firm.

Kanoute on his sponsor free jersey

In the year 2007, Kanoute was awarded the African Player Of The Year. He was the first foreign born African player to win this accolade. In October, Kanoute and his Mali teammate Mamadi Sidibe were attacked by irate Togolese fans after Mali knocked out Togo from the 2010 AFCON. 

Kanoute receiving the African Player Of The Year Award

It was in the same year (2007) whereby he saved the only mosque in the southern Spanish city of Seville from closure. Kanoute paid 510,860 euros (some $700,000) so that fellow Muslims in Seville would not find themselves without a mosque.

The privately owned mosque was due to be sold after a contract to use the premises by the local Muslim population had expired. But Kanoute stepped in to purchase the building. The striker has not made any comment on the matter. But city authorities confirmed that the property has been registered in Kanoute's name, according to the BBC Sport. It is estimated that Kanoute has spent almost a year's salary to buy the mosque.


In the year 2008, Kanoute scored a total of 25 goals in all competitions and helped Sevilla clinch the Super copa de Espana. He represented Mali in the 2008 AFCON and scored one goal in three matches played.

In 2009, during Sevilla's game against Deportivo La Coruna, Kanoute scored the second goal and marked his celebrations in style. He lifted his jersey and displayed a black shirt underneath that read "Palestine." The word was written in various languages and was meant as a message of support for those Palestinians in Gaza who continue to come under fire from an Israeli military offensive in the region. 
The Spanish football federation handed Kanoute a fine of 3,000 euros (£2,677). When asked about his actions and what he had to say about the sanction on him, he replied by saying: 

"It was something that I felt that I should do, Everyone should feel a bit responsible when there is such a big injustice. I am 100 per cent responsible for what I did and I don't care about the sanction. 


His celebration was greeted well by soccer lovers around the world, especially those in the Middle East. Iran's premier league side Zob Sahan issued a statement stating that it was willing to pay the fine imposed on Kanoute by the Spanish Federation. They contacted Kanoute through his official webiste (www.kanoute.com) and requested Osasuna's Iranian national- Javed Nekounam to inform Kanoute  of the decision by Zob Sahan."

Kanoute's Goal and Celebration

In 2010, he scored a total of 21 goals in all competitions and helped Sevilla win the Copa del Rey. He inspired Mali to a dramatic comeback against Angola in their opening AFCON group game. They managed to draw the game after trailing by 3 goals up to half time. Mali's elimination from the AFCON was a major setback for Kanoute and he decided to retire from international football.

Kanoute was once interviewed by Goal.com regarding fasting in the month of Ramadhan, something that many players find it difficult due to intensive training and a run of matches. He replied by saying:

"Personally, having faith helps my football and football helps me to be healthy and strengthens me,"

"There is no conflict because people who know about Islam, they know that fasting empowers and does not weaken the Muslim. I try to respect my faith and follow it as best I can. It is sometimes harder to keep the fast because here in the south of Spain it is very hot, but I can do it, thank God."

Kanoute wishes to see the emergence of African footballers in Europe and has no doubt in their abilities. In an interview which can be read on www.fourfourtwo.com, Kanoute described what football meant to Africa and the challenges the continent faces. 


"You will always have this tidal wave of good African players moving to Europe- because football is a sport of humble countries, not rich nations."
In Africa, we still have much of what is lost in Western Europe, in Africa everyone plays street football. It's unbelievable. That thrill of the ball and what you can do with it is being undermined in rich European nations.
"Food, medicine and education are the priorities across Africa, but when our nations get the facilities to develop our football- we will be incredible!" 

Apart from his football career, Kanoute has been an avid supporter of many humanitarian causes. He established Kanoute foundation to promote causes close to his heart. The charity foundation which has branches in Spain, Mali and France, has opened its flagship to the Sakina Children's village in Mali.

Kanoute Unveiling The Sakina Children's Village Plaque

  

Water At The Sakina's Children Village As of now, Kanoute still plays for Sevilla and remains one of their important players. He has scored 7 goals in 28 appearances this season. At the age of 34, Fredi is always determined and ever ready to help Sevilla achieve their ambitions.    Frederick Kanoute is undoubtedly one of the finest African strikers to have ever played in Europe. He shall be remembered for his contribution on the pitch and as an avid supporter of humanitarian causes in Africa and other parts of Europe.   To me, Fredi remains as a perfect role model to all African players both on and off the field. His career has clearly defined the concept of using football to promote your religion and a reminder to care for humanity. Viva Fredi! Su hermano de Africa, Mj Kassam