AFC Monthly Awards for April - Suwon storm to success

Korea Republic’s Suwon Samsung Bluewings have been named as the Coca-Cola AFC Team of the Month for April following their successful defense of the Asian Club Championship in Iran. 

With a torrential downpour in Tehran reducing much of the Azadi Stadium pitch to a mudbath, many thought Kim Ho’s slick and skilful attacking unit would find the going toughest of all. However, Suwon mastered the difficult conditions better than the others and defeated Uzbekistan’s Nasaf Karsi 3-0 in a semi-final interrupted by rain and a hailstorm to set-up an all-Korean clash with Anyang LG Cheetahs.

The AFC Player of the Month award goes to Anyang’s veteran goalkeeper Valeri Sarytchev (Shin, Eui Son). Although the Cheetahs had to settle for the runners-up spot in Tehran, the inspirational 42-year-old was the main reason Suwon hadn’t wrapped things up in regulation time. Sarytchev, who was named the tournament’s MVP, thwarted two goal-bound attempts from Sandro and was superb to deny a diving header from Alen Avdic.

The six-time K-League goalkeeper of the season, who adopted the name Shin Ui-son (‘Hands of God’) when he became a Korean citizen in 2000, was also a source of frustration to hosts Esteghlal in the semi-final. Despite boasting one of the most potent attacking line-ups in Asia, the Tehran giants were only able to put the ball past the six-foot four-inch colossus once, as Anyang ran out 2-1 winners.

Subrata Bhattacharya receives the AFC Coach of the Month award for guiding Mohun Bagan to an Indian league and cup double, the first in the six-year history of the National Football League (NFL). Bhattacharya, whose side lifted the FA Cup last August, also became the first coach to win two NFL titles after leading the Kolkata giants to victory in the 1999/2000 season.

With Bagan a point behind Churchill Brothers going into the final day of the season, the former India international masterminded a remarkable 1-0 victory over the league leaders in Churchill’s home state of Goa. An estimated 30,000 supporters turned up in anticipation of Churchill securing their first NFL championship, but Nigerian defender Abdul Waisu Saliu spoiled the party with a 73rd-minute goal, giving Bagan their third title in five seasons.