A stellar year for New Zealand football has been reflected in the finalists named today for the New Zealand Football awards in Auckland on Friday.
All three players vying for the men's player of the year award have featured in the All Whites' road to the World Cup in South Africa beginning next month.
Blackburn Rovers and All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen, New Zealand's only regular representative in the English Premier League, proved a vital part of the All Whites' defensive effort in their qualifying matches against Bahrain late last year.
Another to feature was goalkeeper Mark Paston, whose 180 goal-less minutes against Bahrain were capped by a penalty save in the home leg to secure New Zealand's qualification.
Shane Smeltz, the reigning New Zealand and Oceania player of the year, is the third player in the running for player of the year. Smeltz scored 19 goals for Gold Coast United and snared the A-League's golden boot award for the second year running, and was also named man of the match in New Zealand's 0-0 draw with Iraq at the Confederations Cup last year.
The winners of the eight major awards are decided by votes from a panel comprising national team and national league coaches, former internationals, administrators and football media.
The finalists are:
Men's Player of the Year: Ryan Nelsen (All Whites and Blackburn Rovers), Mark Paston (All Whites and Wellington Phoenix), Shane Smeltz (All Whites and Wellington Phoenix/Gold Coast United)
Women's Player of the Year: Amber Hearn (Football Ferns and Lynn-Avon United/Ottawa Fury), Ali Riley (Football Ferns and Stanford University/Pail Blues), Rebecca Smith (Football Ferns and VfL Wolfsburg).
Young Men's Player of the Year (under-20): Costa Barbarouses (Wellington Phoenix), Ian Hogg (Auckland City), Chris Wood (All Whites and West Bromwich Albion).
Young Women's Player of the Year (under-20): Abby Erceg (Football Ferns and Three Kings United), Anna Green (Football Ferns, Auckland and Three Kings United), Rosie White (Football Ferns and Three Kings United).
Coach of the Year: Steve Cain (Young All Whites), Ricki Herbert (All Whites), Paul Posa (Auckland City).
Team of the Year: All Whites (2009 Fifa Confederations Cup, Fifa World Cup qualifiers), Auckland City (2009 NZ and Oceania Champions, Fifa Club World Cup), Young All Whites (Fifa under-17 World Cup).
NZFC Player of the Year, 2009-10 season: Aaron Clapham (Canterbury United), Chad Coombes (Auckland City), Ivan Vicelich (Auckland City).
Women's League Player of the Year: Anna Green (Auckland Football), Renee Leota (Capital Football), Kirsty Yallop (Auckland Football).
