Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) is pleased to announce the nominees for OFC Player of the Year Awards 2008. Twenty five players from around the Oceania region have made shortlists in both men’s and women’s categories.
It is the first time in the confederation’s history that an OFC Player of the Year Award will be made in the category of women’s football with fifteen players on the shortlist.
Ten players have made the shortlist in the Men’s category with few surprises that most nominees play their trade in Europe and Asia. Fifteen players were nominated in the Women’s category.
The voting system used to determine the winners of each category will be similar to the one used in Europe to determine the winner of the Ballon D’Or.
The jury is comprised by members of the OFC Executive Committee, Member Association Presidents, General Secretaries, as well as national team coaches and technical directors of all OFC Member Associations.
OFC General Secretary Tai Nicholas said nominees will be judged based on their performances from the middle of July 2007 to the final day of last year to allow the performances of players based in the Oceania region to be taken into consideration.
“Football is played intermittently within the region because of the geographic spread and isolation and it presents difficulties if you are too reliant on the calendar.
There were some very notable individual performances at the XIII South Pacific Games that deserve acknowledgement,” Nicholas said.
The OFC Player of the Year Award has been in hiatus until last year when it was announced Marama Vahirua (2005), Ryan Nelsen (2006) and Shane Smeltz (2007) had been awarded the honour retrospectively.
“It is great for the promotion of football in the region to acknowledge our achievers. It helps establish a legacy and gives youngsters heroes to aspire too.
We have a great list of nominees in both categories and there is a good spread of representation of most of our member associations.
There is a strong presence of players based in professional leagues around the world including Australia, England, France and Scotland which is encouraging.
I am delighted there is a women’s category particularly after the quality of football we witnessed at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup hosted by New Zealand,” OFC General Secretary Tai Nicholas added.
Wynton Rufer and Harry Kewell have won the award three times each.
Christian Karembeu and Robbie Slater have won the award twice.
Jurors have until 21 March 2009 to submit their votes.
The winners of each award will be announced officially in April 2009.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Gordon Glen Watson
OFC Media and Communications
Oceania Football Confederation
Tel: +649-526-5658
Fax: +649-525-8164
Mob: +649-994-520
Email: [email protected]
Skype ID: gordonglenwatson
EXTRA INFORMATION:
OFC Player of the Year Award (Men) – Nominees
Roy KRISHNA Fiji (Waitakere United)
Frederic PIQUIONNE New Caledonia (FC Lyon)
Pierre WAJOKA New Caledonia (AS Magenta)
Ryan NELSEN New Zealand (Blackburn Rovers)
Chris KILLEN New Zealand (Glasgow Celtic)
Shane SMELTZ New Zealand (Wellington Phoenix)
David MUTA Papua New Guinea (Hekari Souths)
James NAKA Solomon Islands (Zome Mars)
Marama VAHIRUA Tahiti (FC Lorient)
Billy MATAITAI Tahiti (AS Manu Ura)
OFC Player of the Year Award (Women) – Nominees
Filiga KERISIANO American Samoa
Adiela KURIKABA Fiji
Asena Reba RATU Fiji
Daisy WINAS Papua New Guinea
Lydia BANABAS Papua New Guinea
Marjorie POUYE New Caledonia
Elodie TEIN-POAWI New Caledonia
Haley MOORWOOD New Zealand
Rosie WHITE New Zealand
Ali RILEY New Zealand
Annalie LONGO New Zealand
Kirsty YALLOP New Zealand
Laydah SAMANI Solomon Islands
Mimosa MARMOUYET Tahiti
Mele LIKILIKI Tonga
OFC PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD (MEN) – PREVIOUS WINNERS
1988 Frank FARINA Australia
1989 Wynton RUFER New Zealand
1990 Wynton RUFER New Zealand
199
1 Robbie SLATER Australia
1992 Wynton RUFER New Zealand
1993 Robbie SLATER Australia
1994 Aurelio VIDMAR Australia
1995 Christian KAREMBEU New Caledonia
1996 Paul OKON Australia
1997 Mark BOSNICH Australia
1998 Christian KAREMBEU New Caledonia
1999 Harry KEWELL Australia
2000 Mark VIDUKA Australia
2001 Harry KEWELL Australia
2002 Brett EMERTON Australia
2003 Harry KEWELL Australia
2004 Tim CAHILL Australia
2005 Marama VAHIRUA Tahiti
2006 Ryan NELSEN New Zealand
2007 Shane SMELTZ New Zealand