Martins good for MLS, CAF awards — Disu, Atere

Seattle Sounders striker Obafemi Martins may have before him more than the MLS Most Valuable Player award as it appears the Confederation of African Football will include him in the nomination for the Player of the Year.

Martins, who turned 30 on Tuesday, has just signed a multi-year contract extension with the Sounders at the end of a regular season in which he made himself one of the frontrunners for MLS MVP.

Martins signed with the Sounders on March 15, 2013, and scored eight goals and delivered four assists in his inaugural MLS campaign.

The former Newcastle forward, who was already on a Designated Player deal, has been a tremendous contributor for Seattle this year. He has scored 17 goals and assisted on 13 others in league play.

In total, Martins has 25 goals in 51 MLS appearances. That has him second in goals in club history, and his 17 assists in his two years in Seattle rank him fourth all-time in the club’s record book.

Former international, Tajudeen Disu, told Sunday PUNCH that the former Inter Milan forward could be up for his first major award from CAF after winning the Most Promising Talent award in 2003 and 2004.

“Going by the record, Martins deserve to get the MVP award in the MLS. He has contributed more than any other player in the club, leading them to win the Supporters’ Shield and US Open Cup title,” Disu, who played for Boston Bolts that later became New England Revolution in the MLS, said.

“Some people think the MLS is inferior, in terms of quality, to leagues in other parts of the world but I don’t think so. The MLS is relatively younger but it is attracting some of the best players available. You can’t expect the league to be as popular as those in Europe, it’s too early for that. But we have some top players plying their trade there.

“If CAF decides to be very objective in its nomination, I believe Martins would be one of the first to be considered.

Disu named Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o (Everton), Ivory Coast’s Yaya Toure (Manchester City) and Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund) as the top players that could be nominated for the award.

“None of these players have scored as many goals as Martins this season and none of them have created as many assists,” the former Nigeria international said.

“CAF has shown over the years that the award winners are not necessarily the highest goal scorers for their respective clubs, but those helped their clubs and country to glory. Martins may not have played for Nigeria in the past year, but Sounders success this season in directly linked to his contributions.”

Another former international, Fatai Atere, said the only thing that could stop Martins from getting the award would be his absence from the Super Eagles.

“Martins is one of the best players in the MLS and many fans love him because of his ability,” US-based Atere said.

“I think he’s played marvellously in the MLS but then he needs to be called to the national team to be able to compete at the same international level with others. Remember, some people in Europe and Africa still regard the MLS as a league for past heroes.

“If he doesn’t get to play in the national team, it means he is not good enough. Compare him with EPL players who also play for their countries, he stands no chance. With coach Stephen Keshi back with the Super Eagles, I don’t see Martins’ chances of beating the likes of Eto’o and Toure.”

Sounders owner and general manager Adrian Hanauer described Martins as one of the top players in MLS, insisting that the club made the right move to extend his contract.

“Oba has been an integral part of our team on and off the field, and has established himself as one of the premier players in MLS,” Hanauer said in a statement released by the club. “He was a monumental signing when he first joined us last season, and we are thrilled that he will continue his career with Sounders FC.”

Sounders coach Sigi Schmid also said of the striker: “I’m very excited that Oba is going to be staying on here in Seattle and that we were able to come to an agreement. He’s had a fantastic season and we expect more fantastic seasons as we move forward.”

-Kaseem Busari