The Western-based side took out the 2009 Team of the Year Award while their striker and former national futsal and beach soccer side rep Kamal Hassan won the 2009 Footballer of the Year Award and President Shalendra Prasad was honoured as the 2009 Administrator of the Year.
Lautoka won the 2009 National League where they maintained an impressive 18 match unbeaten run. They also finished runners-up in the three major local tournaments (Vodafone Fiji FACT, Inkk Mobile Battle of the Giants and Courts Homecenters Inter District Championship).
An over the moon Hassan was speechless last night.
“I’m very pleased and just can’t describe how pleased I am. This award is dedicated to my parents, family, especially to my Lautoka team mates and officials without whom this would not have been possible. This is the first time I’ve won this award and I will try my best and try to reach greater heights in the near future,” Hassan said.
It follows on from a successful 2008 when Lautoka won the Team of the Year Award and squad member Jone Vonu Junior picked up the 2008 Player of the Year Award.
Meanwhile, Southern-based giants Navua bagged two awards last night. Gurjit Singh took out 2009 Coach of the Year while inspirational Navua skipper Pene Erenio won the 2009 Fair Play Award.
It was also a huge night for Eni Tinai of Labasa who won the 2009 Women’s Footballer of the Year and Popular Footballer of the Year.
FULL LIST OF NOMINEES AND WINNERS
Junior Footballer of the Year
Sonal Sharma (Navua)
Maria Lenavuni (Ba)
Mohammed Shameem (Nadi)
Fair Play
Pene Erenio (Navua)
Footballer of the Year
Benaminio Mateineqara (Navua)
Kamal Hassan (Lautoka)
Vereti Dixon (Nadi)
Coach of the Year
Gurjit Singh (Navua)
Ali Hassan (Savusavu)
Sheik Ajid (DAV Ba)
Referee of the Year
Dina Mani (Lautoka)
Administrator of the Year
Super premier:
Shalendra Prasad (Lautoka)
Anil Sharma (Navua)
Premier:
Basant Prasad ( Taveuni)
Jabid Hussein (Savusavu)
Team of the Year
Lautoka
Navua
Media Personality of the Year
Sunil Sharma (FBCL)
Avikash Chand (Tailevu North, Fiji Live)
Regi Chandar (Tailevu North, Fiji Live)
Leone Cabenatabua (Fiji Sun)
Usman (Radio Apna, NZ)
Womens Footballer of the Year
Eni Tinai (Labasa)
Fiji FA-Air Pacific Popular Player of the Year
Pita Bolaitoga (Labasa)
Pene Erenio (Navua)
Thomas Coster (Nadroga)
Keni Doidoi (Ba)
Kamal Hassan (Lautoka)
Eni Tinai (Labasa)
Story and photo courtesy Fiji FA Media