Three categories of award exist – NZFC Player of the Month Award, NZFC Coach of the Month Award and NZFC Team of the Month Award.
The winners are determined by a panel of experts that include journalists and NZFC coaches with all potential winners judged on performances during week 1-5 of the NZFC 2009/10 competition.
YoungHeart Manawatu and Vanuatu international striker Seule Soromon was selected as the most outstanding player during that time and wins the NZFC Player of the Month Award for the month of November.
Soromon scored all four goals in a 4-0 away win over Team Wellington and a decisive goal in a 2-1 away win over Waikato FC – his impressive strike rate of five goals in three NZFC matches has helped his club into second place in the play-off race.
NZFC Coach of the Month went to Auckland City coach Paul Posa. City remains unbeaten in the NZFC with eight goals for and just one against after four matches.
Posa’s squad is also unbeaten in the 2010 O-League and will carry the hopes of a nation at the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009 as Oceania champions.
The NZFC Team of the Month features another YoungHeart Manawatu player in goalkeeper Ross Nicholson.
The central defence of Otago United skipper Tim Horner and Hawke’s Bay United’s experienced stopper Chris Greatholder is flanked by Auckland City and New Zealand right back James Pritchett. Auckland City FC’s Olympian left back Ian Hogg completes the back four.
Auckland City’s good form is further rewarded with the presence of the hard-working Chad Coombes and former South Korea international Ki-Hyung Lee. Canterbury United’s newfound form means two of their players feature strongly with Tom Lancaster and Aaron Clapham identified by NZFC coaches as two of the best-performed midfielders in recent weeks.
Player of the Month Award winner Soromon headed off a talented cast of rivals for one of the striker berths while Hawke’s Bay United’s Solomon Islands star Andrew Abba also caught the eye with some stunning performances.
NZFC Player of the Month:
Seule SOROMON (YoungHeart Manawatu)
NZFC Coach of the Month:
Paul POSA (Auckland City)
NZFC Team of the Month:
1-Ross NICHOLSON (GK), 2- James PRITCHETT, 3-Ian HOGG, 4- Chris GREATHOLDER, 5- Tim HORNER, 6- Ki-Hyung LEE, 7- Chad COOMBES, 8- Aaron CLAPHAM, 9- Seule SOROMON, 10- Andrew ABBA, 11- Tom LANCASTER.
Story and photo courtesy of NZF Media