BEHOLD THE BBC AFRICAN FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR

Zambia’s Christopher Katongo, has emerged as the 2012 BBC African Footballer of the Year. The 30-year-captain of his national team, beat fellow nominees like Demba Ba, Didier Drogba, Younes Belhanda and Yaya Toure and became the first polayer from Southern Africa, to win the award.

“This is a fantastic moment for me. I thank the people who voted for me. It is something I will never forget in my career,” Katongo told BBC Sport. “I did my best and the people have spoken – that’s the beauty of this award. “This means a lot for the young people and the young players who look up to me. I could not have achieved this without the support of my team-mates.”

Katongo, who plays in China for Henan Construction, won over 40% of the votes from a record number of people, who nominated their favorite players online or by sms. “I think the things that they (the fans) like about me is my discipline and that I am the kind of player who can fail one day but pull up his socks and keep going. I think that is why they voted for me,” he added. “To be among the top players who have won this award, I will go to sleep with a smile on my face. “I did my best and the people have spoken. That’s the beauty of this award.”

Katongo had a great year, leading Zambia to their first ever African Cup of Nations title in February, scoring three times in the competition.

Previous winners of the award:

2011 – Andre ‘Dede’ Ayew (Marseille & Ghana)

2010 – Asamoah Gyan (Sunderland & Ghana)

2009 – Didier Drogba (Chelsea & Ivory Coast)

2008 – Mohamed Aboutrika (Al Ahly & Egypt)

2007 – Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal & Togo)

2006 – Michael Essien (Chelsea & Ghana)

2005 – Mohamed Barakat (Al Ahly & Egypt)

2004 – Jay Jay Okocha (Bolton & Nigeria)

2003 – Jay Jay Okocha (Bolton & Nigeria)

2002 – El Hadji Diouf (Liverpool & Senegal)

2001 – Sammy Kuffour (Bayern Munich & Ghana)

2000 – Patrick Mboma (Parma & Cameroon)