Afif, Kumagai scoop individual accolades
Print Edition
Qatar’s Akram Afif has been named Asian Player of the Year at the Asian Football Confederation’s annual awards in China’s Hong Kong yesterday, with Saki Kumagai from Japan claiming the women’s prize.
Afif becomes the second Qatari player in a row to win the award, succeeding compatriot Abdelkarim Hassan.
The al-Sadd striker was instrumental in his country’s title win at the Asian Cup finals in the United Arab Emirates at the start of the year and also led his club to the semifinals of the AFC Champions League.
“Very happy to be selected as the Asian Player of the Year,” the 23-year-old, who was unable to attend the ceremony due to his involvement with Qatar in the Gulf Cup, wrote on Twitter.
“This is a great honor for me. Thanks to my teammates and brothers, the players of my club as well as the coaching staff and all the national team family, (I) would like to tell them we are all players of the year.”
Afif won the award ahead of Iranian World Cup goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand and Japanese defender Tomoaki Makino, who helped Urawa Red Diamonds to the final of the ACL.
Kumagai has had a remarkable year for club and country, helping Olympique Lyon win the French league and cup as well as the Women’s Champions League.
The 29-year-old was also a key member of the Japan squad that reached the knockout stage of the Women’s World Cup in France and scooped the award for the first time ahead of China’s Li Ying and Ashalata Devi Loitongbam from India.
“It’s a great honor and I’m happy to receive this award,” said Kumagai. “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the people who supported me and brought me to this stage, especially my teammates at Olympique Lyon and the people that helped me grow every day and made me stand here tonight.”
Tottenham Hotspur’s South Korean striker Son Heung-min was named the International Player of the Year while his 18-year-old compatriot Lee Kang-in, who plays in midfield for Spain’s Valencia, was named the Youth Player of the Year.
Japan’s Asako Takakura won the women’s coaching award for a record seventh time in eight years while the men’s title was presented to Chung Jung-yong, who led South Korea to the final of the Under 20 World Cup.
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