chipperThe Asian Football Confederation Annual Awards Gala of 2010 was held on the Wednesday just past, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with Japan picking up a cool 7 awards, and, because I'm biased/proud, Australia picking up a sweet 4.
The awards included a Fair Play award, Club of the Year, National Team of the year, Male/Female Referee of the Year, Futsal Player of the Year, and more.
Note that the AFC's rules for accepting the awards are a little stupid, in that the recipient MUST be present at the gala event, however they are not told the winners until the recipients are announced on the night, thus making it very difficult for players from clubs overseas (*coughTIMCAHILLcough*) or even out of the country at the time, and thus also rendering them ineligible for the award because they aren't able to attend.
HOWEVERRR that's not to say that those who DID receive the awards weren't worthy! :) Personally I thought they were fabulous choices, just that the rules are a bit silly.
Behind the LJ-cut is the list of all the awards and the winners, and there may or may not be a party post for Australia. ;D /totally subtle
(If anyone has stuff to add for the other countries, BY ALL MEANS PLEASE PIFF 'EM THIS WAY! ♥).
AFC ANNUAL AWARDS 2010
AFC Diamond of Asia - Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak
AFC Dream Asia Award - Football Federation of Australia
AFC Member Association of the Year Award - Japan Football Association
AFC Fair Play Association of the Year Award - Japan Football Association
AFC Club of the Year Award - Seongnam Ilhwa
AFC Futsal Team of the Year Award - Iran
AFC Women's National Team of the Year Award - Australia
AFC Men's National Team of the Year Award - Japan
AFC Women's Assistant Referee of the Year Award - Shiho Ayukai (Japan)
AFC Men's Assistant Referee of the Year Award - Toru Sagara (Japan)
AFC Women's Referee of the Year Award - Sachiko Yamagishi (Japan)
AFC Men's Referee of the Year Award - Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)
AFC Women's Match Commissioner of the Year Award - Emily Lau Cheuk-chi (Hong Kong)
AFC Men's Match Commissioner of the Year Award - Abdul Ghafoor Abdul Hameed (Maldives)
AFC Women's Coach of the Year Award - Kim Tae-hee (Korea Republic)
AFC Men's Coach of the Year Award - Takeshi Okada (Japan)
AFC Women's Youth Player of the Year Award - Yeo Min-ji (Korea Republic)
AFC Men's Youth Player of the Year Award - Gwan Jong-il (DPR Korea)
AFC Futsal Player of the Year Award - Mohammad Taheri (Iran)
AFC Women's Player of the Year Award - Kathryn Ann Gill (Australia)
AFC Player of the Year Award - Sasa Ognenovski (Australia)
HURRAH and congrats to all the recipients! \o/
AND NOW FOR THE MINI(?) SORT-OF PARTY POST BIT! /bricked \o/
AFC Dream Asia Award, a new AFC Award, hell yeah Football Federation Australia!, recognised FFA's dedication to social development through soccer. Given its unstable history, how they had to pull themselves together, re-establish themselves and became a much stronger federation, I personally can't help but be proud. :')
AFC Women's National Team of the Year, The Matildas, our women's national team, captained by
AFC Player of the Year , Sasa Ognenovski, captain of the kick-ass K-League team, Seongnam Ilhwa (AFC's Club of the Year), defender, 190cm, although already 31 he (FINALLY!) was called to make his first cap for the Socceroos in a friendly against Egypt on November 17th, and even though the Socceroos were thumped 3 - 0 (ow), Sasa looked like he had heaps of fun. Here is a photo of Sasa being all captainy with his Seongnam Ilhwa teammates. Awww!
AFC Women's Player of the Year , Kathryn Ann Gill AKA Kate, striker for Perth Glory FC and our Women's Football Team ("the Matildas"), helped score one of the penalties in the shootout which saw the Matildas win the 2010 Asian Women's Cup(!!!!!), flawless, and smart to boot (currently studying a Bachelor of Psychology, and also a qualified fitness instructor). Here she is being her gorgeous self. :')
Aaand that's Australia's awards. If y'all have stuff to add, please feel free!
SOURCES:
THIS is the AFC's official website, and right now has all these articles about the Awards Gala, so get 'em while they're hot!
HERE is an article about some of the recipients, with the focus being on Australia
receiving both the Men's Player of the Year and Women's Player of the Year awards. Also has the list of all the awards and recipients, which is exactly like mine (magic of copy+paste), but without the sparkles. :)
ALSOOOOOO while I'm here (heh I'm, like, so subtle):
*side-eyes the competition*
TYFYT!
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥