Golden Ball Awards 2010: Minh Phuong, Kim Hong take top awards

Midfielder and captain Nguyen Minh Phuong was presented with the prestigious Golden Ball award to rounds of applause at the presentation ceremony of the Golden Ball Awards 2010, which took place yesterday at Ben Thanh Theatre in HCMCity.

Nguyen Minh Phuong (centre) holds the Golden Ball Award for the best footballer of the year in a ceremony in HCMCity yesterday

He was a convincing winner with a high score of 387 points, 255 points higher than Pham Thanh Luong, who won the Silver Ball with 132 points. Nguyen Vu Phong, who had 89 points, was presented with the Bronze Ball award.

All of the winners yesterday had been honoured previously. Phuong won the Silver Ball awards in 2006 and 2007; and Luong and Phong were Golden Ball and Silver Ball winners, respectively, last year.

“Although the national team did not achieve the desired results in 2010, players played with all their ability and enthusiasm,” said Phuong, who is playing for SHB Da Nang, at the ceremony.

“I’m very happy being awarded this prestigious Golden Ball prize. It is the recognition from coaches, journalists and my colleagues,” said two-time champion Dong Tam Long An’s ex-player.

There was sadness for young midfielder Nguyen Trong Hoang of Song Lam – Nghe An, as he was not on the roll of honour in spite of being nominated for the second successive time.

Midfielder Tran Thi Kim Hong (centre) of HCMCity won the Golden Ball award

On the women’s side, midfielder Tran Thi Kim Hong of HCMCity won the Golden Ball award with 283 points while goalkeeper Dang Thi Kieu Trinh, another player from HCMCity, won the Silver Ball with 258 points. The Bronze Ball went to defender Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh of Ha Noi with 140 points.

U-19 team’s former captain and Ha Noi T&T’s midfielder Nguyen Van Quyet won the Best Young Footballer award with 78 votes, 30 votes more than Dinh Thanh Trung of Hoa Phat Ha Noi.

“This achievement comes from my efforts and the guidance from my coaches. I will always try my best to deserve this prestigious prize,” said an emotional Quyet, 20, after receiving the trophy.

There was some surprise in the Best Foreign Player award when Nigerian striker Samson Kayode got 59 votes, 10 votes more than Argentinian striker and the V-League 2010’s top scorer Gaston Merlo.

“I am very surprised about the award because I thought Merlo would win it because he was the highest scorer last season,” Samson said after receiving the prize.

“But I think that my assists and commitment to Dong Thap made me the winner today. I am very happy to play football in Viet Nam at the moment,” he added.

Besides scoring 13 goals for Dong Thap last season, Samson also supplied many assists for his teammates and helped in defence.

— VNS