Kaputa, Sangala not part of Ballon d’Or delay
James Sangala and John Kaputa met last Friday’s deadline for voting for the Ballon d’Or World Player of the Year and World Coach of the Year. The two represented Flames players and coaches respectively.
Sangala and Kaputa confirmed on Thursday that they cast their votes a fortnight ago.
On Wednesday, Fifa extended the Ballon d’Or voting deadline, improving Cristiano Ronaldo’s chances of winning after his superb performance for Portugal in a World Cup qualifier.
On its website, Fifa says the contest is now open until November 29 because too many voters failed to meet last Friday’s original deadline.
Ronaldo, the 2008 award winner, scored all three goals in Portugal’s 3-2 victory in Sweden on Tuesday to advance to the World Cup.
Lionel Messi has won the accolade for the past four years.
The world’s best player in 2013 is chosen by national team coaches and captains, plus a journalist from each of Fifa’s 209 member countries.
Fifa’s original voting window of October 28-November 15 ended hours after the first legs of the European play-offs.
