PETALING JAYA (29 Oct 2012) – The Kelantan sensationally completed the treble this season but it appears that there’s more accolades awaiting the state’s players when this year’s 100PLUS-Astro Arena-FAM National Football Awards is held held in Oct 30. The Kelantan players could well walk away with a few more awards as they have dominated the shortlist for the prestigous awards.
With just days left before the ceremony and with nomination papers trickling in, Kelantan – Malaysian Super League winners, FA Cup and Malaysia Cup champions – have players represented in all eight player categories being contested this year.
As it was last year, all the Super League and Premier League head coaches voted for the players they felt were the best candidates for the various categories. The coaches were in the best position as they watched the players in action throughout the season.
Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, the No. 1 for Kelantan and also for the national side, is once again up for the best goalkeeper award where he will face competition from national team-mate and fast-improving Farizal Marlias from Negeri Sembilan. The other player in the category is Norazlan Razali from Selangor.
Kelantan midfielder Mohd Badri Radzi has also been shortlisted in two categories – the Best Midfielder and also for the Most Valuable Player of the season.
While Kelantan may have received the bulk of the nominations, Premier League champions and Malaysia Cup runners-up, ATM, have also earned themselves some nominations following their outstanding season.
Defenders Mohd Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak and also Amirizwan Taj Tajudin are up against S. Subramaniam from Kelantan for the Best Defender award while Rizal Zamri Yahya, who scored a fabulous goal in the recent Malaysia Cup final, is being considered for the Best Midfielder award.
ATM coach B. Sathianathan is in the running for the Best Coach award with Marlon Alex James in contention for the newly-introduced Best Foreign Player category.
The remaining awards for the Best Football Association, Best Club and also for the Best Fan Club will all be decided by the FAM Competitions Committee.
“Looking at the shortlist, this year’s awards ceremony is going to be an exciting one. Players, officials and especially the millions of fans around the country will be anxiously waiting for the outcome of the results,” said Ms Cariessa Goh, Corporate Affairs Manager, F&N Beverages Marketing Sdn Bhd.
2012 LIST of SHORTLISTED PLAYERS
BEST GOALKEEPER
– Farizal Marlias (NEGERI SEMBILAN)
– Khairul Fahmi Che Mat (KELANTAN)
– Norazlan Razali (SELANGOR)
BEST DEFENDER
– S. Subramaniam (KELANTAN)
– Mohd Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak (ATM)
– Amirizwan Taj Tajudin (ATM)
BEST MIDFIELDER
– Safiq Rahim (SELANGOR)
– Mohd Badri Radzi (KELANTAN)
– Rizal Zamri Yahya (ATM)
BEST STRIKER
– Mohd Norfarhan Mohamad (KELANTAN)
– Norshahrul Idlan Talaha (KELANTAN)
– Mohd Amri Yahyah (SELANGOR)
MOST PROMISING PLAYER
– Mohd Rozaimi Abdul Rahman (SABAH)
– Nik Mohd Shahrul Azim Halim (KELANTAN)
– Ashri Chu Chu (SARAWAK)
BEST COACH
– Bojan Hodak (KELANTAN)
– B. Sathiananthan (ATM)
– Irfan Bakti Abu Salim (SELANGOR)
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
– Mohd Badri Radzi (KELANTAN)
– Hairuddin Omar (ATM)
– Norshahrul Idlan Talaha (KELANTAN)
BEST FOREIGN PLAYER
– Marlon Alex James (ATM)
– Muhammad Ghadar (KELANTAN)
– Jean Emmanuel Effa Owana (NEGERI SEMBILAN)
