2003 OFC Player of the Year to be announced on Monday, 9 February 2004

OFC, Auckland: The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) has collated all votes for the 2003 OFC Player of the Year award and is set to announce the winner on Monday, 9 February 2004.

The winner has been notified by the award coordinators and you can read his reaction in a press statement which will be released to the media and posted on the OFC website www.oceaniafootball.com simultaneously at 11:00am (AEST) & 1:00pm (NZT) next Monday.

Brett Emerton was the last recipient in 2002 and was presented his award on a flying trip down under to Australia last year. Since winning the award, Emerton has realised his dream of playing in the English premiership and is now contracted with the Blackburn Rovers.

Media representatives as well as the national coaches, technical directors and soccer administrators from around the Oceania region took part in the 2003 voting. Voters were asked to list three players in order of preference with 3 points allocated for the most preferred choice, 2 points for the second choice and 1 point for their third choice.

Australia has dominated the award so far this century with current Socceroo stars, Mark Viduka winning in 2000, Harry Kewell winning his second in 2001 and Emerton completing the trifecta in 2002. However, New Zealander Wynton Rufer holds the honour of winning the top award a record three times in 1988-89 and 1992. In 1999, he was recognised as the OFC Player of the Century. Christian Karembeu, the former French international who hails from New Caledonia, has won the award twice in 1995 and 1998. Current Socceroos’ coach, Frank Farina was the first recipient of the award back in 1988.

OFC Player of the Year past winners:

1988: Frank Farina (Australia)

1989: Wynton Rufer (New Zealand)

1990: Wynton Rufer (New Zealand)

1991: Robert Slater (Australia)

1992: Wynton Rufer (New Zealand)

1993: Robert Slater (Australia)

1994: Aurelio Vidmar (Australia)

1995: Christian Karembeu (New Caledonia/France)

1996: Paul Okon (Australia)

1997: Mark Bosnich (Australia)

1998: Christian Karembeu (New Caledonia/France)

1999: Harry Kewell (Australia)

2000: Mark Viduka (Australia)

2001: Harry Kewell (Australia)

2002: Brett Emerton (Australia)

2003: ????