All Set For PLB Awards

Come Saturday at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Accra, a VW Polo saloon car will be presented to the most outstanding player of last season's Onetouch Premier League.

The event will be at the second Professional League Board (PLB) Awards Night. Other players, club officials and administrators will also share in the prestige and glory as they receive awards in 13 other categories.

After a roadshow put together by the organisers, Global Avanti yesterday, Mr Welbeck Abra-Appiah, Chairman of the PLB, told the Daily Graphic that this year's event would be a major improvement upon last year's.

“What will make this event a memorable one is the fact that for the first time we will be giving away a car to the best player. And as part of efforts to motivate staff of the FA, the best employee of the GFA will also receive an award,” he revealed.

Mr Abra-Appiah said categorically that his outfit, together with the organisers, were making every effort to ensure that nobody casts doubts over the credibility of the awards.

“In drafting the criteria for selection we realised that it was necessary to involve the football fans who are also major stakeholders, hence the introduction of the 40 per cent, public vote via text messages for eight of the categories. A Technical Committee will also have 60 per cent,” he said.

Twenty-two-year-old King Faisal midfielder, Kweku Essien, a nominee for the Onetouch Best Player award, told this paper that he was confident of winning the award eventually. “My club has had a tough season and in times when all my colleagues were down I just had to fight on because I believe in perseverance,” he told the Daily Graphic in a chat.

Essien has been nominated together with Ashantigold's Alhaji Moro Sannie and Kojo Asamoah of Liberty Professionals.

Ashantigold's Mr Kudjoe Fianoo, Mr Walter Yankah of Heart of Lions and Mr Eric Afotey Odai of Great Olympics have been nominated for the Allure Spa Chairman of the Season, while Ekow Benson (Tema Youth), Allhaji Moro Sannie (Ashantigold) and Emmanuel Clottey (Great Olympics) are in line for the Woodin Discovery of the Year award.

Clubs shortlisted for the SCL Shareholding Most Improved Club award are Great Olympics, Heart of Lions and Ashantigold, while the Angel Cream Defender of the Season award will go to either Isaac Vorsah of Kotoko, Jonathan Quartey of Ashantigold or Yahaya Mohammed of Tema Youth.

Nominees for the Tobinco Pharmacy Fair Play Award are Feyenoord Academy, Heart of Lions and Ashantigold, with Cecil Fletcher of Takoradi, Daniel Offei of Tema and Mercy Tagoe Quarcoo being nominated for the Yafo Referee of the Season prize.

Nominees for the Nana Boakye Herbals Most Promising Goalkeeper of the Season are Ernest Sowah (Tema Youth), Isaac Akrong (All Blacks) and Joseph Addo (Hasaacas), while coaches David Duncan (Ashgold), Hans van der Pluym (Heart of Lions) and Mitko Dobrez (Hearts) have been short-listed for the Coca Cola Coach of the Season Award.

The Opportunity International Best Behaved Centre Award will be vied for between Carl Reindorf Park in Dansoman, Ho Sports Stadium and Swedru Sports Stadium.

The La Palm Royal Beach Hotel FA Employee of the Season and La Palm Casino Golden Award will be announced at the event.

Awards that have already been decided based on statistics are GLICO Insurance Goal King, which goes to Emmanuel Clottey of Great Olympics, Jokers Pub and Grill Highest Scoring Club, Heart of Lions, and Champion Club of the League won by Accra Hearts of Oak.

Story by Nathaniel Attoh