Qantas Socceroos and Aussie Referees in line for AFC Awards
The Qantas Socceroos are in contention to win the prestigious Asian Football Confederation (AFC) National Team of the Year (Men) award, alongside DPR Korea and the Korea Republic, with the winner to be announced at the AFC Annual Awards 2009 gala next Tuesday evening (24 November) at the Shangri-La Hotel in Kuala Lumpur (8:00pm local, 11:00pm AEDT)
This is the third occasion that the Qantas Socceroos have been nominated for this accolade having previously been in line for the 2006 and 2008 editions and receiving the 2006 AFC National Team of the Year (Men) award.
The nomination caps off a stellar twelve months for the Qantas Socceroos which saw them qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup by topping their group in the final stage of the Asian Qualification process, conceding only one goal in their last eight matches, reaching their highest ever position of 14th in the FIFA World Rankings, and holding their position as the top ranked Men-s National team in the AFC throughout the year.
Along with the Qantas Socceroos, Australian Referees Matthew Breeze and Jacqui Melksham have been nominated for the Men-s and Women-s AFC Referee of the year respectively and Assistant Referees Matthew Cream and Airlie Keen are in line for the Men-s and Women-s AFC Assistant Referee of the Year awards.