Yaya Toure

Here’s a Sonny Side of Sports salute for Yaya Toure, the Ivorian and Manchester City football star who probably will be celebrating his 29th birthday next week by holding the English Premier League trophy.

The 2011 African Footballer of the Year scored both goals for Man City Sunday in a crucial 2-0 road victory over Newcastle United.

Yaya Toure scores his second goal against Newcastle

Toure put Man City in front in the 69th minute with a beautiful goal from just outside the box to the bottom of the right corner of the goal. And then in the 89th minute, the rugged midfielder sealed the victory with another goal.

With the triumph, Manchester City is on the verge of its first English Premier League title since 1968. Man City is level on points, with 86, with local rival Manchester United. But Man City has the edge on goal difference and it’s expected to wrap up the league title when it plays at home against struggling Queens Park Rangers in its final match May 13th.

Man City’s Italian manager, Roberto Mancini, is delighted with his team’s victory over Newcastle and he describes Yaya Toure as a fantastic player. Yaya’s older brother, 31-year-old Kolo, also plays for Man City, and the Toure brothers make regular appearances for Ivory Coast’s national team, currently top-ranked in Africa.