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By James Copnall
BBC Sport, Brussels
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Anderlecht striker Aruna Dindane has won the Ebony Boot as the top African
player in Belgium.
Dindane was favourite for the award
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Ivorian Aruna heard his name called out in a lively ceremony in a Brussels
hotel - and admitted he had been very nervous.
"I hardly managed to eat beforehand," Aruna joked.
"But I am delighted to win this award, which has been won by so many great
players."
Celestine Babayaro, Daniel Amokachi and Mido are some of the names already
engraved on the stylish trophy, which was created 12 years ago by African
students who were tired of deserving African players being overlooked in
mainstream Belgian awards.
Aruna may be an exception, however: he is also in the running for the
Belgian Player Of The Year award.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the season he has had, the 22-year-old felt
his trophy was merited.
"I think I deserve it, at least in part," he told the BBC.
"I have had a pretty good season. And even though I was suspended at the
beginning, I was able to get back into the team and play pretty well."
It has not been a prolific season for Aruna in terms of goals - he has
scored just eight in the league - but his all-round play has been
spectacular.
Young Guinean Sambegou Bangoura finished second, and Sierra Leone's Paul Kpaka
took third spot.
The award is voted for by coaches from Belgium's top three divisions.
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MMIX
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