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Hiek wins Player of the Year
Elywn Lee
info@sleague.com
The MediaCorp TV Theatre was the venue for the 14th Great Eastern-Yeo’s S.League Awards Night on Monday 9 November.
After another season of thrills, spills, joy and tears, it was once again time to laud those who lit up the S.League and gave all fans and supporters something to cheer about.
YEO’S YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR
The first award for the night went to Ojimi Gabriel Obatola. The 22-year-old Gombak United striker beat his contemporaries to take the Young Player of the Year award.
“I feel so excited, I am thankful to God for giving me this award,” enthused Obatola.
“I am so happy for the league, I thank my coach (Darren Stewart) and the S.League for making me what I am.
“I aim to work harder to be the top-scorer for my team next season,” said the Bulls striker, who was pipped by Aleksandar Duric of SAFFC into second place in the top-scorer charts, having scored 24 goals. The prolific striker later dedicated his win to his coach (Darren Stewart) and to the Gombak United fans and faithful.
AVAYA-J&J STORY OF THE YEAR
Straits Times reporter Wang Meng Meng walked away with the Story of the Year prize. Wang’s story “Why I’m Who I Am” was a candid interview with national striker Noh Alam Shah.
GREAT EASTERN REFEREE OF THE YEAR
Referee P. Pandian took the Referee of the Year award, beating contemporaries Sukhbir Singh, Abdul Malik Bashir, Abas Daud and Leow Thiam Hoe in the process.
CERTIS CISCO ASSISTANT REFEREE OF THE YEAR
The Assistant Referee of the Year award went to Jeffrey Goh. Goh held off the challenges of Edwin Lee, Eugene Chan, Haja Maidin and Tang Yew Mun.
SINGAPORE POOL’S FAIR PLAY AWARD
Home United FC clinched the Fair Play Award, beating Albirex Niigata (Singapore), Sengkang Punggol FC, SAFFC and the Young Lions.
POLAR FAN CLUB OF THE YEAR
SAFFC clinched the Fan Club of the Year award 2009, capping-off back-to-back yearly wins.
It was the seventh time over the past 14 years that the indomitable Warriors fan cub had taken the award, setting an unassailable record in that category.
The other contenders on the night were the fan clubs of the Young Lions, Home United, Woodlands Wellington and Geylang United.
S.LEAGUE 100 GOALS
Home United’s strike ace Kengne Ludovick entered the hallowed S.League hall-of-fame with his 100 Goals achievement.
The Cameroonian also hit the mark in fine style by being the first player in S.League history to reach this target within five years.
Ludovick thanked past and present coaches he had worked with, from Abdul Karim Razzak and Nasaruddin Jalil (Balestier Khalsa) to Vincent Subramaniam and PN Sivaji (Home United).
“I’m happy to have achieved the 100 goals in faster time than any other player (in the league); it was hard work (but) the dedication has paid off,” said the affable 26-year-old.
YEO’S PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
Ojimi Gabriel Obatola hit his brace of awards on the night by winning the People’s Choice Award.
“I am so happy, I now know people out there know me,” exclaimed the Bulls striker.
Obatola’s high work rate coupled with his eye for goal made him a key player in the Gombak squad, contributing in no small way to the Bulls third-place finish this season.
TIGER BEER GOAL OF THE YEAR
Season 2009’s Goal of the Year was a sweet volley from off the foot of SAFFC’s Ahmad Latiff Khamarudin.
“I had to calculate the flight of the ball and then get my foot underneath it correctly. I estimate the degree of difficulty to be 8 (out of 10),” said Latiff on reflection.
The striker concocted his magic during the game against Albirex Niigata (Singapore) at Choa Chu Kang Stadium on 26 March.
Latiff struck home via a left-sided cross with the shot crashing in off the crossbar, his audacious effort winning the approval of the judging panel.
GREAT EASTERN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Capping it all off was the grand prize of the night – the Player of the Year award.
That accolade was accorded to Home United defender Valery Hiek, the astute rear guardsman of the Protectors who had, nevertheless, notched six S.League goals and one Singapore Cup goal to his name this season.
Proclaiming his surprise at winning the award among the field of other luminaries, the Cameroonian stated:
“Thank you to Coach Sivaji; I think (under Sivaji’s guidance) I played very good this year to win the Player of the Year. I dedicate this award to Coach Sivaji, my family and Home United FC.” |
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