Izuchukwu OkosiReal Madrid striker Karim Benzema Thursday eevening was awarded the 2022 UEFA Player of the Year prize after his phenomenal 2021-2022 season where he conquered the Champions League title alongside his teammates.
The French forward scored 15 goals in the Champions League on the way to the trophy and was crucial in all of their knockout ties.
Speaking after the award was presented to him, he told Spanish media outlet Sport that the best moment was their first comeback, against Paris Saint-Germain.
“The best moment of that Champions League was the return leg against PSG, we were able to come back thanks to the support of our fans.”
The striker also had some kind words for his manager Carlo Ancelotti, who picked up the prize for Coach of the Year. England’s women’s national team head coach Sarina Wiegman won the women’s coach of the Year.
“Ancelotti is the best manager in the world, he gives me a lot of confidence,” Benzema stated.
France international of Algerian descent Benzema will now look forward to a series of awards with a strong hope that he can take all of the individual prizes this year.
The 34-year-old striker scored 44 goals last season, showing great persisistence and professionalism and was the most essential player in the most successful side.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
Follow Us