Captain's ball at S. League award night

From Sleague.com

Four of them walked away with trophies and toasts to celebrate their work in a hectic season.

And while foreign clubs might have swept the team honours a week ago, the event at the Power House at St. James Power Station was one for the locals as they claimed almost every prize on offer.

The big winner of the evening was Singapore captain Shahril Ishak, who bagged the Great Eastern Player of the Year title and the Tiger Beer Goal of the Year award.

Both trophies were the first individual honours the 26-year-old in his professional career, and reflected the stellar work he had done this season as skipper of Home United before he had left for Indonesian side Persib Bandung in late September.

Probably the best illustration of Shahril's rise this season was his winning entry for the Goal of the Year award, the second of his three goals in the Protectors' 5-2 demolition of archrivals SAFFC.

Rounding half the Warriors backline before sending the ball into an empty net, his goal was an exquisite work of the highest order.

Shahril was his usual shy self as he spoke to media about receiving the Player of the Year award, crediting everyone he had worked with at Home this season.

"I'm surprised with the win, because there is so much talent among the nominees," he said.

"Everyone at Home United have played a big part for me to win this award. As captain of the team, I knew I must show more responsibility in the team this year, and I think I have done my best.

"These are my first awards after playing in the league for eight years, and it's a very big breakthrough. This will motivate me to try to do even more in my football life, but this is not enough - because I also have goals for the national team in the AFF Suzuki Cup."

Hariss Harun won the YEO'S Young Player of the Year award for his sterling leadership of the Young Lions, no mean feat considering he had been playing out of position for most of the year.

The central midfielder by training has spent the bulk of 2010 steadying the defensive line for V. Sundramoorthy's boys, a role he has executed superbly going by the decision of the award's judging panel.

His shock at winning the award was clear for all to see as he stumbled through his acceptance speech, something he was not afraid to admit afterwards.

"Looking at the nominees I was up against, it was really tough competition," remarked the young man, who had recently turned 20.

"(Frederic) Mendy, Shahdan (Sulaiman), (Mamadou) Diallo, Firdaus Kasman - all of them did tremendously well this season. For me to win this award is a great honour, and I was really caught off-guard when my name was announced!

"Many, many young players are coming up, and a lot of them will prove themselves in time to come. The most important thing for people like me is to keep working hard and hope for the best for all of us."

SAFFC captain Shahril Jantan meanwhile won the popular vote for the YEO'S People's Choice Award, following another impressive season between the goalposts for his club.

But that was to be the only prize for the Warriors, after they were beaten to the POLAR Fan Club of the Year award by Albirex Niigata (Singapore), whose lively cheering on matchdays and active use of promotional events brought new life to the stands.

Richard Bok also lost his grip on the MIKASA Coach of the Year award, which went to Tampines Rovers coach Vorawan Chitavanich for his work in steering the club to second place in the league and an appearance in the RHB Singapore Cup final.

The 49-year-old was away in Thailand to settle some matters, and receiving the trophy on his behalf was his daughter Parawan.

"I'm very proud of my father, and seeing him at games sometimes, I understand how hard he works," she told sleague.com.

"My mum and I have always been giving him our support. I guess maybe he got this award because people can see he worked hard and put his heart in everything he does."

Woodlands Wellington skipper Mohd Noor Ali became the tenth player to receive the 100 Goals Award after his haul of three in all competitions this year put him past the mark, and Aleksandar Duric became the first player ever to collect the 300 Goals Award.

Etoile FC striker Mendy meanwhile collected the RHB Top Scorer Award for his 21-goal haul in the regular S.League season, one more than Duric had managed for Tampines.

There was also time to honour a hero of yesteryear, as Mohd Ezaad Abdullah, son of the late Dollah Kassim, received the FAS Special Award from FAS President Zainudin Nordin on behalf of his father for his decades of contribution to Singapore football.

"I'm sure my father would have been proud to collect the award himself," remarked Ezaad with a dignified touch of humour.

For those looking for hilarity, though, the moment that took the cake came when the nominees for the Great Eastern Referee of the Year and Certis Cisco Assistant Referee of the Year were presented in their respective introductory videos.

In a nod to the party culture embodied by St. James Power Station, the men in black were seen dancing away as they blew whistles, pulled out cards and waved flags at a confused extra, prompting plenty of laughter all around.

Keeping up the thematic reference, FAS Referees Committee chairman Jeffrey Beh boogied his way up the stage when he collected the Referee of the Year trophy on behalf of winner Abas Daud, who was away on assignment.

"The only reason I'm collecting this award is that Abas is overseas, and the only reason he is overseas is because I sent him there!" he quipped.

Great Eastern-YEO'S S.League Awards Night 2010
Roll of Honour

Great Eastern Player of the Year: Shahril Ishak (Home United)

YEO'S Young Player of the Year: Hariss Harun (Young Lions)

MIKASA Coach of the Year: Vorawan Chitavanich (Tampines Rovers)

RHB Top Scorer: Frederic Mendy (Etoile FC)

Tiger Beer Goal of the Year: Shahril Ishak (40', Home United vs SAFFC on 16 July)

YEO'S People's Choice Award: Shahril Jantan (SAFFC)

Great Eastern Referee of the Year: Abas Daud

Certis Cisco Assistant Referee of the Year: Haja Maidin

Singapore Pools Fair Play Award: Tampines Rovers

POLAR Fan Club of the Year: Albirex Niigata FC (Singapore)

RHB Story of the Year: "I thought of quitting" by David Lee (The New Paper)

Singapore Pools Picture of the Year: "Geylang United's forward Itimi Dickson collides with Young Lions goalkeeper Jasper Chan and midfielder Kim Seong Kyu" by Lim Kok Meng (Lianhe Zaobao)

100 S.League Goals: Mohd Noor Ali

300 S.League Goals: Aleksandar Duric

FAS Special Award: Dollah Kassim