AFF Awards 2013

Eighteen awards will be presented to distinguished individuals who have helped sculpt the development of football in ASEAN, according to a statement by AFF. The statement was released during a ceremony to celebrate the sponsors of AFF Awards 2013.

The sponsors including Tourism Malaysia, Telekom Malaysia, Genting Malaysia, Pahang State Government, Football Association of Malaysia and Hyatt Regency Kuantan were welcomed by AFF Awards 2013 Organising Chairman, Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, HRH Tengku Abdullah Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah.

“It is indeed gratifying to note that we have such incredible support from our sponsors who have come in with such generosity and commitment. We are very appreciative of this and thanks to these partners, we are confident that AFF Awards 2013 will be a great success,” said Tengku Abdullah.

During the ceremony, AFF also announced that His Excellency Tengku Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Ahmad Rithauddeen, who was Federation President from 1996 to 2011, will receive the AFF Life Service Award at the AFF Awards 2013 to be held on April 3.

He is credited to have led AFF’s revival in 1996, playing a major role in the Federation’s success over the years, including hosting the AFF Suzuki Cup. He is also AFF’s Honorary Life President and has demonstrated a strong and sincere dedication to the betterment of ASEAN football during his presidency and beyond.

The Federation is also conferring the ASEAN Goodwill Award to HRH Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, who is being recognised for outstanding acts and gestures of goodwill and fair play during the year.

AFF noted that when His Excellency Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen stepped down from the presidency in 2010 and was succeeded by His Royal Highness Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, the ASEAN Football Federation grew from strength to strength. Its foundation became stronger, with the new president aiming to not only lift the sport to a higher level; but to also provide assistance and much-needed aid through humanitarian efforts and philanthropy.

In 2012, the Mindanao islands in the Philippines were devastated by typhoon Bopha.  Entire communities vanished overnight, washed away in mudslides and flash floods.  His Royal Highness Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah rallied the Council of the ASEAN Football Federation to raise funds amounting to USD100, 000 to help communities rebuild their lives.

The Federation will also applaud the achievements of outstanding individuals and teams who have made exemplary contributions to football.

AFF highlighted that the winners have been chosen by a selection committee who monitored each award recipient’s play and progress during each game in the AFF Suzuki Cup 2012 and other competitions organized by AFF, AFC and FIFA.

The AFF Awards Night 2013 will see 16 other awards including AFF Player of the Year, AFF Referee of the Year, and AFF National Team of the Year conferred to ASEAN’s most illustrious individuals and teams in the football world (Please refer to the attachment for a full list of the Nominees).

               

Recipients & Nominees

                  1)     AFF Life Service Award

Awarded by the selection committee based on the body of work of the individual

Recipient: H.E. Tengku Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Ahmad Rithauddeen

                 2)     ASEAN Goodwill Award

Awarded for outstanding acts and gestures of goodwill and fair play through football

Recipient: H.R.H. Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta'in Billah Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Abu Bakar

                 3)     AFF Best XI

Awarded by the technical study group based on performances in the AFF Suzuki Cup 2012

          Recipients:

Goalkeeper             : Kawin Thamsatchanan (THA)

Right Back              : Nguyen Minh Duc (VIE)

Centre Back            : Baihakki Khaizan (SIN)

Left Back               : Panupong Wongsa (THA)

Left Back               : Theerathon Bunmathan (THA)

Right Midfield        : Kyi Lin (MYA)

Centre Midfield      : Mustafic Fahrudin (SIN)

Centre Midfield      : Safiq Rahim (Mas)

Left Midfield          : Anucha Kitpongsri (THA)

Striker                    : Mohd Shahril Ishak (SIN)

Striker                   : Teerasil Dangda (THA)

4                  4)     Best Goal in the AFF Suzuki Cup 2012

Recipient: Teerasil Dangda – Jersey No. 10 (THA)- AFF Suzuki Cup 2012

Semi Final 1 (1st Leg) 09 Dec 2012.

Malaysia vs Thailand

5                5)     AFF Futsal Team of the Year

Awarded to an ASEAN Team with the most outstanding performance at AFF, AFC and FIFA Futsal Competitions

Recipient: Thailand

           6)     AFF Association of the Year

Awarded to the Member Association who has led development activities at the AFF, AFC or FIFA level with unparalleled professionalism. Execution of AFF activities including competitions, courses and council meetings were carried out with competence and proficiency.

         

Nominees:

·         All Member Associations

          7)     AFF Referee of the Year (Men)

Awarded to the ASEAN Referee who has performed consistently at an outstanding level in AFF, AFC and/or FIFA competitions.

Nominees:

·         Abdul Malik Abdul Bashir (SIN)

·         Chaiya Alee Mahapab (THA)

         8)     AFF Referee of the Year (Women)

Awarded to the ASEAN Referee who has performed consistently at an outstanding level in AFF, AFC and/or FIFA competitions.

           

            Nominees:

·                     Abirami Apbai Naidu (SIN)

·                     Pannipar Kamnueng (THA)

          9)     AFF Assistant Referee of the Year (Men)

Awarded to an ASEAN Assistant Referee who has performed consistently at an outstanding level in AFF, AFC and/or FIFA competitions

         

Nominees:

·         Mohd Sabri Mat Daud (MAS)

·         Jeffrey Goh Gek Pheng (SIN)

·         Tang Yew Mun (SIN)

          10)                        AFF Assistant Referee of the Year (Women)

Awarded to an ASEAN Assistant Referee who has performed consistently at an outstanding level in AFF, AFC and/or FIFA competitions

Nominees:

·         Widiya Habibah Shamsuri (MAS)

·         Praphaiphit Tarik (THA)

           11)                        AFF Player of the Year (Men)

Awarded to an ASEAN Player who has performed outstandingly in AFF, AFC and/or FIFA competitions in 2012

            Nominees:

·         Teerasil Dangda (THA)

·         Mohd. Shahril Ishak (SIN)

·         Emelio Asada Caligdong (PHI)

·         Kyi Lin (MYA)

            12)                        AFF Player of the Year (Women)

Awarded to an ASEAN Player who has performed outstandingly in AFF, AFC and/or FIFA competitions in 2012

           

            Nominees:

·         Junpen Seesraum (THA)

·         Dang Thi Kieu Trinh (VIE)

·         San San Maw (MYA)

             13)                        AFF Youth Player of the Year

Awarded to an ASEAN Youth Player who has performed outstandingly in AFF, AFC and/or FIFA competitions in 2012

            Nominees:

·         Chanathip Songkrasin (THA)

·         Nguyen Van Quyet (VIE)

·         Keoviengphet Liththideth (LAO)

             14)                         AFF Futsal Player of the Year

Awarded to an ASEAN Futsal Player who has performed outstandingly in AFF, AFC and/or FIFA competitions in 2012

Nominees:

·         Suphawut Thuenklang (THA)

·         Nguyen Bao Quan (VIE)

·         Pyae Phyo Aung (MYA)

               15)                        AFF Coach of the Year (Men's Team)

Awarded to a National Team Coach who has performed outstandingly in AFF, AFC and/or FIFA competitions in 2012

Nominees:

·         Radojko Avramovic (SIN)

·         Winfried Anton Schafer (THA)

·         Hans Micheal Weiss (PHI)

·         Datuk Rajagobal R. Krishnasamy (MAS)

                16)                        AFF Coach of the Year (Women's Team)

Awarded to a National Team Coach who has performed outstandingly in AFF, AFC and/or FIFA competitions in 2012

           

Nominees:

·         Chen Yun Fa (VIE)

·         Kumada Yoshinori (MYA)

·         Han Wong Chol (LAO)

               17)                        AFF National Team of the Year (Men)

Awarded to a National Team who has performed outstandingly in AFF, AFC and/or FIFA competitions in 2012

Nominees:

·         Singapore

·         Thailand

·         Philippines

·         Malaysia

                18)                        AFF National Team of the Year (Women)

Awarded to a National Team who has performed outstandingly in AFF, AFC and/or FIFA competitions in 2012

Nominees:

·         Vietnam

·         Myanmar

·         Thailand

·         Laos

Manilal Fernando suspended

ZURICH — The fallout from the Mohamed bin Hammam corruption scandal in soccer led to FIFA suspending another leading Asian member of its executive committee on Monday.

Vernon Manilal Fernando of Sri Lanka, a close ally of the disgraced former FIFA presidential candidate, has been banned from any soccer activities for up to 90 days.

FIFA said this was “to prevent interference with the establishment of the truth” during an ethics investigation.

The suspension relates to the investigation by FIFA prosecutor Michael J. Garcia into the alleged misuse of Asian Football Confederation accounts and conflicts of interest in commercial contracts while bin Hammam was president.

Fernando’s case has been sent to the adjudicatory chamber of FIFA’s ethics committee for a decision. Calls to his mobile telephone were not returned Monday.

FIFA hasn’t indicated any specific allegations against Fernando, who joined the governing body’s inner circle under bin Hammam’s patronage.

The 63-year-old Fernando is barred from involvement in the March 20-21 FIFA board meeting in Zurich, which will recommend ongoing anti-corruption reforms. They were sparked by the bin Hammam scandal and bribery allegations surrounding the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding contest.

Hammam resigned from all soccer-related positions in December and was banned for life by FIFA after its ethics committee charged him with repeated violations while leading the AFC.

The Qatari official got his second life ban since he challenged Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency in 2011.

Hammam won a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling last year to overturn the first ban. The court said FIFA hadn’t proven bin Hammam paid $40,000 bribes in cash to Caribbean officials despite presenting whistleblower evidence.

Fernando, who is a lawyer, was among a group of senior soccer officials who accompanied Hammam on that May 2011 trip to Trinidad to woo voters three weeks ahead of the FIFA election. Bin Hammam, who claims Blatter helped orchestrate the scandal, withdrew his candidacy as FIFA prepared to suspend him days before polling.

Fernando was questioned by investigators from former FBI Director Louis Freeh’s agency about his role.

Garcia launched a second probe of Hammam in one of his first cases since being appointed FIFA’s lead prosecutor last July.

A yearlong audit by the Malaysia-based Asian confederation revealed “infringements” regarding the “execution of certain contracts” and tampering with the organization’s bank accounts by Hammam while he was president since 2002.

Hammam was a former ally of Blatter and had been appointed to chair its Goal Bureau distributing millions of dollars of development funding each year.

Fernando was effectively Hammam’s point man in south Asia as FIFA’s development officer based in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

In January 2011, Fernando was elected by Asian soccer nations as one of their four delegates on FIFA’s ruling executive committee. On the same day in Doha,  Hammam was re-elected unopposed as AFC president and prepared to take on Blatter.

With a scheduled May 2 election to choose a new AFC president, Fernando is now barred from campaigning for one of the four candidates. Three are former allies of  Hammam.

Hazard, Ba on Malaysian tour

Chelsea’s stars Eden Hazard and Demba Ba will be coming to town for the first time! The Belgian and the Senegalese are poised to make their maiden trip to Kuala Lumpur as part of the English Premier League team’s 2013/2014 pre-season tour.

This will be ‘The Blues’ third visit to Kuala Lumpur since 2008 and the friendly match against a Malaysian Selection will be played on July 21 at the Shah Alam Stadium. Chelsea will also play matches in Thailand and Indonesia.

Malaysian fans will also get the opportunity to watch UEFA Champions League winners such as Ashley Cole, Petr Cech, Branislav Ivanovic and Gary Cahill who will join the likes of Hazard and Ba on the Malaysian leg of the tour.

It will also be a sweet trip down memory lane for current skipper John Terry as it was in Kuala Lumpur that he earned accolades as team captain when lifting the Premier League Asia Cup in 2003, during Chelsea’s playing tour then.

This year’s summer tour will see the club living up to the theme ‘Here to Play, Here to Stay’, and is made possible through the concerted efforts of ProEvents International and the Football Association of Malaysia.

Chelsea will take to the field against the Malaysian Selection who are also known as Harimau Malaya (Malayan Tigers) four days after their friendly against Thailand All-Star XI on July 17 in Bangkok, before flying to Jakarta to conclude their tour against an Indonesian XI on July 25 at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.

Chelsea’s Chief Executive Ron Gourlay said they are pleased to return to Kuala Lumpur as there is a large fan-base among Malaysians.

“It is fantastic news that we will be adding Kuala Lumpur to our already confirmed match in Bangkok and Indonesia this summer,” said Gourlay at a press conference at the Saujana Hotel in Subang, Wednesday (6/03/13).


Also present were the FA of Malaysia Vice-President Dato’ Seri Subahan Kamal who is also the national team manager and FAM General-Secretary Lt Gen (Rtd) Dato’ Azzuddin Ahmad.

“We look forward to the match against what promises to be a strong and improving opposition. Two years ago in Malaysia we narrowly won before 85,000 fans. And we are looking forward to the same stunning atmosphere once again. Each time we travel to Asia I am amazed at the reception, and I am sure this summer will be no different,” added Gourlay.

Kuala Lumpur has been home to a Chelsea FC Blue Pitch since 2011, providing a hub for their staff to bring expert grassroots coaching to Malaysian youngsters, and was also utilised during the youth team’s mini-tour of Asia last summer.

ProEvents International Managing Director San Boon Wah said Malaysia has always been the key destination for English Premier League clubs and Chelsea’s third visit here since 2008 will provide their fans another thrilling experience of watching Chelsea’s new signings for the first time.

 “I am sure fans from this region will be very excited to watch the star-studded Chelsea team play against the Malaysian Selection,” said Boon Wah. “Several of them will be playing in Kuala Lumpur for the first time. It is great news and we appreciate Chelsea’s efforts to bring their best possible squad to Kuala Lumpur.”

He added that ProEvents takes great pride in organising this match and thanked the FA of Malaysia and Chelsea fans as well for their continued support.

“All Malaysian football enthusiasts should come and support the Malaysian Selection and Chelsea as well. I am confident the Stadium will once again be packed for this exciting match against Chelsea who have in their line-up some of the world’s most renowned players.”

Chelsea official club website receives more than 180,000 unique visits each month from Malaysia, and the club’s Facebook page has almost one million fans in the country. News on ticket sales for the matches against Malaysia will be posted on the official Chelsea website and ticketpro.com.