Ghana striker, Jordan Ayew, has dedicated his Crystal Palace Player of the Season Award to former Olympique Marseille President Pape Diouf who died of coronavirus in April 2020.
Diouf was Marseille President between 2005 and 2009 when Jordan Ayew was playing at the club’s academy.
Ayew, who won a hat-trick of awards at the Crystal Palace End of Season Awards (also won Players’ Player of the Year and Goal of the Year), said he would not be where he is without Diouf.
“When I have this type of award, I think about one man that has been so influential in my football career, Pape Diouf,” Ayew began.
“He passed away during the period of COVID and I wish he was still here for me to present him this award.
“He was so influential in my football career. He was the one who opened the doors for me in my football career.
” He was more than a father and I like to thank him very much because if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” Ayew concluded.
https://twitter.com/CPFC/status/1288203374890975234?s=20
Jordan, who netted nine times this season and played in 39 games across all competitions, received an impressive 37% of the total votes from almost 6,000 supporters.
He saw off competition from goalkeeper, Vicente Guaita (28.2%), and defender, Gary Cahill (16.7%) to scoop the Player of the season accolade.
The ex-Swansea man also earned the recognition of his teammates by being voted the Player’s Player of the Year and the trophy presented by captain Luka Milivojevic.
Jordan Ayew’s last-minute winner against West Ham United at Selhurst Park was also named Crystal Palace’s Goal of the Season.
The Boxing Day strike came in the 90th-minute against the Hammers, securing Palace three points in emphatic fashion.
He secured the Goal of the Season accolade as voted for by fans, and secured the trophy with a landslide victory; collecting 70.1% of the votes to beat Wilfried Zaha v Chelsea (H) and his own effort against Aston Villa at home by some distance.