Quang Hai nominated for Best Player in AFF Awards 2019

Hanoi FC star and national team member Nguyen Quang Hai has been nominated for the Best Player title of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Awards 2019 after his impressive performances with both his club and the national team.

Star midfielder Quang Hai has a great opportunity to win the prestigious regional award.
Star midfielder Quang Hai has a great opportunity to win the prestigious regional award.

>>> Vietnamese football expected to dominate at AFF Awards Night 2019

The Vietnamese star man will face fierce competition from "Thai Messi" Chanathip Songkrasin in the best male player title at the biennial AFF Awards Night 2019, to be held in Hanoi for the first time, on November 8.

Both Chanathip and Hai are important, irreplaceable factors in the tactics of the Thai and Vietnamese teams. as well as at the club level. Chanathip has experienced a successful season for Japanese side Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo and was named in the J1 League outstanding XI in 2018. However, the Thai star has not proven much in the national team, especially in the recent clashes against arch-rivals Vietnam.

Meanwhile, the Vietnam Golden Ball 2018 winner Nguyen Quang Hai has regularly competed prominently in both the national teams and club levels. The 1997-born midfield contributed greatly to the impressive achievements of the national U19, U20, U23 and senior teams in international tournaments over the past two years. In addition, this season, Hai and his teammates at Hanoi FC have conquered two domestic titles, namely the V.League 1 and the National Cup trophies, in addition to claiming their spot in the 2019 AFC Cup Inter-Zone Final.

Hai’s teammate, defender Doan Van Hau, who is on loan at Dutch side SC Heerenveen, has been excluded in the shortlist for Best Young Player – a title he won two years ago. This year’s three nominations are Luqman Hakim (Malaysia), Suphanat Mueanta (Thailand) and Fabian Andres Monge (Australia).

Elsewhere, Vietnamese futsal player Tran Van Vu will be up against Malaysian Mohd Khairul Effendy B. Mohd Bahrin for the Best Futsal Player of the Year. In addition, the Vietnamese futsal national team led by coach Miguel Rodrigo have also been nominated for the title of Futsal Team of the Year.

Veteran coach Mai Duc Chung of the Vietnamese women's team is also on the list of nominees at the AFF Awards 2019.

Mai Duc Chung, manager of the Vietnamese women’s national team, has been nominated for the Coach of the Year award in the women’s football category after leading Vietnam’s to their recent victories in the regional football, with their fifth Southeast Asian Games title in 2017 and third AFF Women's Championship trophy last August.

Along with Chung’s nomination, head coach of the men’s national football team Park Hang-seo has been shortlisted for the Best Coach title along with Malaysian coach Tan Cheng Hoe.

The AFF Awards Night will be held next Friday, taking place in Hanoi for the first time. In total, the awards consist of 18 prizes which will be presented to individuals and organisations in recognition of their contribution to Southeast Asian football.