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AFC - Korean forward Ahn Jung-hwan and three European-based players - China’s Li Tie, and Japan’s Junichi Inamoto and Shinji Ono - have been named as the nominees for the main prize in the Asian Football Confederation AFC Player of the Year Awards 2002.
All four starred for their countries in last year’s FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan, where the co-hosts led Asian football to new heights.
Ahn played a high-profile role in Korea Republic’s run to the World Cup semi-finals, scoring crucial goals against the United States and Italy. He then helped J.League club Shimizu S-Pulse reach the group stage of the inaugural AFC Champions League, having moved from Italian Serie A club Perugia.
In China’s World Cup debut, Li impressed against eventual champions Brazil, bronze medallists Turkey and Costa Rica. After joining Everton, the defensive midfielder was a revelation for the Merseyside club, becoming a first-team regular as the side soared to the upper reaches of the English Premiership.
Inamoto also made his mark in the English Premiership with Fulham, and helped the London club win their first European silverware with a man-of-the-match performance in the final of the UEFA Intertoto Cup. The midfielder enjoyed a memorable World Cup, where his goals and workrate helped Japan reach the second round for the first time.
Shinji Ono was also a key player in Japan’s historic World Cup run but it was his brilliant performances for Feyenoord that sealed his nomination. After winning the UEFA Cup, which made him only the second Asian player to lift a major European trophy, the creative midfielder helped the Dutch giants qualify for the First Group Stage of the 2002/03 UEFA Champions League.
Meanwhile, two Koreans, an Iraqi and an Uzbek are in the running for the AFC Young Player of the Year prize.
Ulsan Hyundai midfielder Lee Chun-soo shone for Korea at the World Cup and Asian Games, while compatriot Kim Dong-hyun was outstanding as Korea’s youth team won the AFC U-20 Championship in Qatar, where he was named tournament MVP.
Uzbekistan’s Ilyas Zeytullaev, a member of the Juventus youth squad, made the AFC U-20’s All-Star XI after steering his country into the semi-finals, ensuring they joined Korea, Japan and Saudi Arabia in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship.
Iraq and Al Shorta starlet Ali Nashat Akram rounds off the Young Player nominees after an outstanding year for club and country, highlighted by his eye-catching displays in Iraq’s WAFF (West Asian Football Federation) Championship win.
Dutchman Guus Hiddink and Frenchman Philippe Troussier, who led Korea Republic and Japan respectively to their best performances in the World Cup, are the front-runners for the AFC Coach of the Year prize.
Adnan Hamd, who led Iraq to their WAFF victory in Syria, and Croatian Branko Ivankovic, Iran’s Asian Games-winning coach, are the other two nominees.
AFC General Secretary Dato’ Peter Velappan was pleased with the selection and added that each of the contenders has a good chance to win their respective categories.
“The competition for each award looks quite close to call,” Velappan said. “We wish all the nominees the best of luck and may the best man and team win.”
Other awards to be presented for 2002 include AFC National and Club Teams of the Year, AFC Referee and Assistant Referee of the Year, and the AFC Fair Play Award.
All winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 28, 2003. |
