PETALING JAYA (19 March 2013) – The ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) will host its inaugural AFF Awards 2013 on 3 April to salute the region’s finest in football. A total of 18 awards will be presented to outstanding individuals and teams who have made exemplary contributions to the sport.
AFF President His Royal Highness Sultan of Pahang Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah said in a statement that it was time to honour ASEAN’s best.
“In recent years, ASEAN football has cultivated some serious talent, and the region is growing as a football powerhouse. We are gaining traction at a global level, and the time is right to honour the men and women who have dedicated their lives to the evolution and honour of the world’s most popular sport.”
HRH Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, who is also Chairman of the Awards Selection Committee, said that as football in the region continued to develop and mature, the Commitment demonstrated by ASEAN’s finest needed to be acknowledged.
“We will be deliberating thoroughly before deciding on the shortlist of nominees and winners, which is a difficult process as all the nominees have given so much to the sport. The nominees we have received in each category are incredibly talented and should be lauded for their contributions to date. They are all winners in their own right,” he said.
Among the awards to be conferred include the AFF Referee of the Year ( Men & Women), AFF Association of the Year, AFF Player of the Year ( Men & Women ), AFF Team of the Year, AFF Coach of the Year ( Men & Women ) and AFF Futsal Team of the Year. Other categories include AFF Life Service Award, AFF Fair Play Award, AFF Best XI, Best Goal in the AFF Suzuki Cup 2012, AFF Assistant Referee of the Year ( Men & Women ), AFF Youth Player of the Year, AFF Futsal Player of the Year and AFF National Team of the Year ( Men & Women ).
Tengku Mahkota of Pahang HRH Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who is also the Organising Chairman of the AFF Awards 2013, thanked the sponsors supporting the event.
“I am immensely pleased that the first AFF Awards is being held in my own state, and would like to record my deepest appreciation to the generous sponsors who have made this grand event possible,” he said.
Sponsors include Tourism Malaysia, Telekom Malaysia, Genting Bhd, the Pahang StateGovernment, Football Association of Malaysia, and Hyatt Regency Kuantan Resort.
Echoing the Sultan’s statement, HRH Tengku Abdullah was pleased that ASEAN stars are finally being recognised in their own backyard.
“Their dedication to the sport is an inspiration to all of us. The awards couldn’t have come at a better time as football in ASEAN is enjoying tremendous progress. By recognising talents in this region, we are encouraging and motivating the advancement of football. This should spur players and officials alike to strive towards a higher level in this globally-loved sport.”
