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- Dec 1, 2013
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Awards Director, Tunde Adelakun of New African Soccer has revealed to Goal that the Kenyan international and skipper, who joined Saints last season from Scottish champions Celtic, saw off stiff competition from West Ham's Senegalese new boy Diafra Sakho.
Wanyama has been part of the Saints' superb start to the season, with his team occupying third place in the Premier League. He has been integral part to a great midfield display by Southampton.
"It was a tough choice as we had to also take into account, the performance of the Senegalese Diafra Sakho, who has been in explosive form since he arrived in England. Sakho has scored in virtually every game he played for West Ham in September and he has been as deserving of the award as Wanyama," said Tunde.
"But what swayed it in Wanyama's favour was his overall team work ethic and contribution especially at what many thought would be a difficult time for his club having lost many of their top players in the summer."
Wanyama scored his first EPL goal in their win against Swansea becoming the first player from Kenya to achieve the feat and will be given his award upon his return from international duty in a friendly against Morocco next Monday.
The EPL African Player of the Month awards is given to the player from among a shortlist of African stars playing in English top-flight, who garners most votes by football supporters from the continent and beyond. The voting is done through twitter and facebook, as well as text message.
Goal.com
