Mahatma Otoo Is 2009/10 Best Player

Mahatma Otoo

HEARTS OF Oak striker Mahatma Otoo won the prestigious Footballer of the Year prize for the 2009/10 season during the 5th Premier League  Board (PLB) Awards Night held at the Banquet Hall, State House in Accra last Friday.  

The Hearts of Oak predator beat stiff competition from Lee Addy of Bechem Chelsea and Bismarck Aidan of Kessben FC to take home the coveted award.

The historic event was attended by big wigs in Ghana football including Minister for Youth and Sports, Akua Sena Dansua and GFA President Kwesi Nyantakyi as well as PLB executives.

Distinguished sports personalities for the past season including footballers, referees, club managers, the media, corporate institutions as well as selected individuals were honoured.

League champions Aduana Stars took home the lion share of awards on the night as they took home four enviable awards to crown their fantastic season at top flight football in Ghana.

The league champions won the Club of the Year, Best Goalkeeper (Stephen Adams), Most Promising Player, (Godfred Saka) and Best Coach, (Herbert Addo).

With 13 goals apiece, Bismarck Aidan of Kessben FC and Samuel Affum (Hearts of Oak) were joint top scorers of the season, as Lee Addy of Bechem Chelsea won the Best Defender award.

Mr. Cudjoe Fianoo, whose managerial skills aided fallen giants Ashantigold FC to wake from their deep slumber to finish as runners up, was adjudged the Best Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the season.

The Fair Play Team award went the way of Bechem Chelsea as Liberty Professionals emerged winners in the Best Behaved Club, Supporters Category.

Ashantigold FC and Accra Hearts of Oak tied with regard to the Premier League Club With the Best Functional Office with Mr. Augustine Asante winning the Best Match Commissioner.

Mr. Thomas Nunoo and David Laryea emerged the Best Referee and Assistant Referee respectively, as Stephen Asamoah took home the Best PLB Cameraman prize.

Special awards such as Platinum Award, went to Glo Mobile Ghana, Gold Award to Optimum Media Prime, Silver to Tata Africa Holdings Ghana Limited and Bronze Award to Voltic Ghana Limited.

The occasion was characterized by scintillating music. Attendants were also entertained by a magical show.

In her succinct remarks, Minister for Youth and Sports, Akua Sena Dansua cited corruption, fraud and violence as the bane of Ghana soccer and called for collaborative efforts from her ministry, GFA, the media and all stakeholders to solve the quandary.

Calling for more investment in Ghana soccer, she said government would waive taxes for organizations that invest in football, urging corporate organizations and individuals to take advantage of this facility. On the upcoming FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Ms Sena Dansua said the Black Stars are going into the tournament with the conviction that they can win the trophy.

From I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi