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Ivan Vicelich is in the running for the OFC men's player of the
year award
(Photo:Getty Image via FIFA Getty Image) |
The awards focus on the performances of players from January 2009 to the same month in 2010 and those voting include members of the OFC executive committee, member association presidents, general secretaries, national team coaches and technical directors.
There are two categories, men’s player of the year and women’s player of the year, and 10 finalists have been chosen for each.
The men’s line-up and their countries is: Kamal Hassan (Fiji); Pierre Wajoka (New Caledonia); Ryan Nelsen, Shane Smeltz and Ivan Vicelich (all New Zealand); David Muta (Papua New Guinea); Elliot Ragomo and Robert Laua (both Solomon Islands); Marama Vahirua (Tahiti) and Seule Soromon (Vanuatu).
The women in the running are: Angela Sa’o (American Samoa); Regina Mustonen (Cook Islands); Eni Tinai (Fiji); Salome Sela Va’enuku (Tonga); Amber Hearn, Hayley Moorwood, Ali Riley, Rebecca Smith, Kirsty Yallop and Rosie White (all New Zealand).
“The past 12 months have been a watershed year for football in Oceania and it’s important that we recognise the talents and achievements of the best players, both men and women, in the region,” says OFC General Secretary Tai Nicholas.
“We have had a high calibre of candidates, not only from New Zealand, but across the Pacific. These awards will complement the success of what’s been happening in Oceania during this period.”
The awards began in 1988 and Frank Farina from Australia – which is now part of the Asian Football Confederation – was the first recipient. Other notable names to have picked up the male player of the year gong include New Zealand’s Wynton Rufer (1989, 1990, 1992), Ryan Nelsen (2006) and Shane Smeltz (2007, 2008), Australia’s Harry Kewell (1999, 2001, 2003), Robbie Slater (1991, 1993), Mark Viduka (2000), Mark Bosnich (1997), Tim Cahill (2004) and Brett Emerton (2002), and New Caledonia’s Christian Karembeu (1995).
In 1999, Rufer was named OFC player of the century, while Bosnich was singled out as the OFC goalkeeper of the century.
Last year was the first time a women’s award has been handed out and it went to New Zealand striker Rosie White, a finalist again for 2009.
See below for more information on all the finalists:
OFC PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD 2009 (MEN)
Kamal HASSAN (FIJ) Fiji beach soccer (captain), Fiji futsal (captain), Lautoka, Fiji international
Pierre WAJOKA (NCL) AS Magenta, New Caledonia international
Ryan NELSEN (NZL) Blackburn Rovers (captain), New Zealand international (captain)
Shane SMELTZ (NZL) Gold Coast United (A-League Golden Boot 2009), New Zealand international
Ivan VICELICH (NZL) Auckland City FC (captain), New Zealand international
David MUTA (PNG) Hekari United FC (captain), Papua New Guinea international
Elliot RAGOMO (SOL) Playas De Castellyon (Spain), Solomon Islands futsal (captain), Al-Fateh Confederations Futsal Cup Golden Boot 2009
Robert LAUA (SOL) Solomon Islands beach soccer (youngest player to play at a FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup)
Marama VAHIRUA (TAH) FC Lorient (French Ligue 1)
Seule SOROMON (VAN) YoungHeart Manawatu, NZFC All Stars, Vanuatu international
OFC PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD 2009 (WOMEN)
Angela SA’O (ASA) American Samoa U-20, American Samoa futsal (domestic MVP), American Samoa international
Regina MUSTONEN (COK) Cook Islands U-20, Cook Islands international
Eni TINAI (FIJ) Labasa College, Labasa senior women, Fiji international
Amber HEARN (NZL) Lynn Avon United, Ottawa Fury (Canada), New Zealand international
Hayley MOORWOOD (NZL) Lynn Avon United, Ottawa Fury (Canada), New Zealand international
Ali RILEY (NZL) Standford University/Pali Blues (USA), New Zealand international
Rebecca SMITH (NZL) Vfl Wolfsburg (Germany), New Zealand international
Kirsty YALLOP (NZL) Lynn Avon United/Pali Blues (USA), New Zealand international
Rosie WHITE (NZL) Three Kings United, New Zealand U-20, New Zealand international
Salome Sela VA’ENUKU (TGA) Nukualofa Eleven, Tonga U-20, Tonga international
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