Courtesy: Football Asia

Japan win four awards

Dec 1, 2005


KUALA LUMPUR – It was a good night for Japanese football at the AFC Annual Awards gala in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday evening as they claimed four of the prizes on offer.

Japan’s senior national side were named the National Team of the Year for the second year in a row after a solid 2005 in which the Asian Cup holders qualified for a third consecutive World Cup and also gave a solid account of themselves at the FIFA Confederations Cup, where they beat European champions Greece and held World Cup holders Brazil to a 2-2 draw.

Japan’s U-17 women’s side claimed two honours following their victory in the AFC U-17 Women’s Championship in April. The team were named the
Women’s National Team of the Year and Natsuko Hara won the Women’s Player of the Year award.

Capping off the evening, JFA President Saburo Kawabuchi won the first ever ‘Diamond of Asia’ award for his contributions to the development of football in Japan, which includes his efforts in the launch and
development of the highly successful J.League.

AFC Champions League holders Al Ittihad also had plenty to celebrate as they were named Club Team of the Year alongside Hamad Al Montashari’s winning of the Player of the Year award.

DPR Korea U-17 striker Choe Myong-ho won the AFC Youth Player of the Year award while Singapore’s Shamsul Maidin, who officiated at the FIFA Confederations Cup and the AFC Champions League final, was named AFC Match Official of the Year.


AFC Annual Awards - Roll Of Honour
Player of the Year
Hamad Al Montashari (Saudi Arabia & Al Ittihad)

Youth Player Of The Year
Choe Myong Ho (DPR Korea)

Women's Player Of The Year
Natsuko Hara (Japan)

Match Official Of The Year
Shamsul Maidin (Singapore)

Futsal Team Of The Year
Iran

Women's National Team Of The Year
Japan U-17

National Team Of The Year
Japan

Association Of The Year
Qatar Football Association

Club Team Of The Year
Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)

Fair Play Team Of The Year
Hong Kong

Diamond Of Asia
Saburo Kawabuchi (Japan)



Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com