OFC PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2008 – NZ STRIKERS EARN HIGHEST HONOUR

Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) is pleased to announce the winners of the OFC Player of the Year Awards for 2008.

In the men’s category, New Zealand striker Shane Smeltz wins this prestigious award for the second year in a row while compatriot and fellow striker Rosie White has taken out the women’s prize.

It is the first time in OFC history an award has been made for men and women in separate categories.

OFC Vice-President Fred de Jong presented the honours on behalf of OFC President Reynald Temarii at a New Zealand Football awards presentation on Tuesday.

Smeltz, who scored eight goals for the All Whites in their 2010 FIFA World Cup™ South Africa Qualification campaign in just six matches, says he feels honoured to be voted the confederation’s best male footballer for 2008.

“I’ve seen some of the players who have won the award in the past and I feel privileged to be part of that list,” said the Gold Coast United striker who was also recognized today as the 2008 New Zealand Player of the Year Award.

Smeltz took the opportunity to acknowledge All Whites and Wellington Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert as well as his fellow teammates. 

“I have to say a big thanks to Ricki for creating a great environment with the All Whites and also my former club the Phoenix. And obviously a lot of credit has to go to the players I play alongside.”

German-born Smeltz says he is now looking forward to the FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa in June and the all-important FIFA World Cup play-offs later in the year. 

At just 15 years of age, White completed a dream year in 2008 by breaking into the senior New Zealand women’s team – the Football Ferns – after earlier scoring hat tricks at both the FIFA U-20 and U-17 Women’s World Cups.

"It was a huge year last year with two World Cups and I guess all the hard work paid off," said White, who spent the first half of the year recovering from a knee injury. “2008 was a dream really.”

White has plenty of football to look forward to since she is eligible for the next FIFA U-17 event as well as two more U-20 World Cups but the talented striker admits her main focus is on the senior side.

“I want to cement my place in the Football Ferns and keep scoring goals.”

The OFC Player of the Year award has been made annually since 1988 with players from Australia and New Zealand dominating the list.

Prior to 2008, the award experienced a three-year hiatus but in the interests of continuity and uniformity OFC decided to award for 2005, 2006 and 2007 retrospectively.

This year voting was open to members of the OFC Executive Committee as well as Presidents, General Secretaries, National team coaches and Technical Directors from each of OFC’s 11 Member Associations.

OFC General Secretary Tai Nicholas says it has been important to re-establish the award.

"The best male and female players in the Oceania region deserve to be recognised and I’m pleased to see that today,” said Nicholas.

“It’s also a great opportunity for Member Associations to make their vote count and we’ve had positive feedback from those who have taken part.”

The first ever winner was Australian Frank Farina in 1988. Since then Christian Karembeu (NCL) and Marama Vahirua (TAH) are the only two players from outside of Australia and New Zealand to feature.

New Zealand’s Wynton Rufer has won it three times for his exploits with the All Whites and Bundesliga giants Werder Bremen where he earned rave reviews and plenty of silverware. 

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