China's Fan named Asian Player of the Year

AFC - China's 2002 FIFA World Cup campaign received a huge boost today with three prizes coming their way in the Player of the Year Awards 2001 presentation by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

Chinese international Fan Zhiyi was named AFC Player of the Year 2001 while teammate Du Wei bagged the award for the AFC Youth Player of the Year. To make it a truly memorable night and to complete a "hat trick" at the annual awards ceremony in Shanghai, China PR were also named the AFC National Team of the Year.

With the China Football Expo serving as the backdrop for the presentation ceremony, another Asian World Cup representative also found a reason to celebrate. Nassar Al Johar, who will lead Saudi Arabia in the World Cup campaign, was named the AFC Coach of the Year 2001.

For World Cup co-hosts Korea Republic, it was Suwon Samsung Bluewings who did the country proud as they were named the AFC Club Team of the Year.

Korea picked up another award with World Cup referee Kim Young-joo being named the AFC Referee of the Year. It was also a night to remember for the Maldives when Saeed Mohamed picked up the award for the AFC Assistant Referee of the Year. Saeed Mohamed is also headed for the action at the World Cup.

Fan, whose consistent performances throughout the year swung the votes in his favour, is currently on loan at Shanghai Zhongyuan Huili from Scottish side Dundee. Fan, who was also cited for the key role he played in China's first-ever World Cup qualification, was nominated for the AFC Player of the Year award for the second time. He was first nominated in 1998.

He beat off a strong challenge from fellow international Li Tie, Iran's Ali Karimi, Abdullah Al Shehan of Saudi Arabia and Mirdjalal Kasimov of Uzbekistan.

For Du, a rising star in the Chinese team, being named AFC Youth Player of the Year is recognition of his potential. He caught the eye of the great Diego Maradona while playing Argentina in a friendly youth tournament in Hong Kong prior to the FIFA World Youth Championship last year. China beat Argentina in that match and Du, who played a big part, was described by Maradona as having a perfect sense of how defence should be played while describing his speed as unparalleled.

The others in contention for the AFC Youth Player of the Year award were another exciting Chinese talent, Qu Bo, Emad Mohamed of Iraq and Thailand's Nirut Surasiang.

China were named AFC National Team of the Year for having qualified for the World Cup in fine fashion and being the national team that had the most significant impact on Asian football in 2001. Al Johar has become something of a legend in his country. The world will recognize him as the man who turned around the Saudi national team's fortunes in the World Cup qualifying competition when Slobodan Santrac got the sack after just two matches.

To Al Johar's credit he revived the team and ensured Saudi Arabia's place in the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan. The award must be of immense satisfaction to Al Johar who last year lost out to Japan's Philippe Troussier in the final round of voting.

The other coaches who Al Johar edged out in the race for the AFC Coach of the Year Award were China's Bora Milutinovic, Wolfgang Sidka of Bahrain and Korea's Kim Ho. With the exception of Kim, who is coach of Suwon Samsung Bluewings, the others are national coaches.

Roll of Honour

AFC Player of the Year : Fan Zhiyi ( China)
AFC Youth Player of the Year : Du Wei ( China)
AFC Coach of the Year : Nassar Al Johar ( Saudi Arabia)
AFC National Team of the Year : China PR
AFC Club Team of the Year : Suwon Samsung Bluewings ( Korea Republic )
AFC Referee of the Year : Kim Young-joo ( Korea Republic)
AFC Assistant Referee of the Year : Saeed Mohamed ( Maldives)