KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 -- Terengganu FC (TFC) head coach Nafuzi Zain is honoured at being nominated among experienced individuals in the Best Coach category at the 2020 National Football Awards (ABK20).
Nafuzi, 42, is also the youngest local candidate in the category, with the three other local coaches being Yusri Che Lah (Kelantan), Nidzam Adzha Yusoff (Kuala Lumpur) and Manzoor Azwira (Penang).
The remaning six candidates are import coaches Aidil Sharin Sahak (Kedah), Akira Higashiyama (Kuching FA), Benjamin Mora (Johor Darul Ta’zim), Frank Bernhardt (UiTM FC), Mehmet Durakovic (Perak) and Michael Feichtenbeiner (Selangor).
Nafuzi, in his inaugural stint, coached the Turtles squad to a third-place finish in the 2020 Super League, which also qualifies the team for the 2021 AFC Cup, as the FA Cup and Malaysia Cup were cancelled this year.
"I actually did not expect to be nominated, moreover this is my first season as a head coach. I admit that being a head coach is not easy, but with the cooperation of everyone in the TFC team, we have been able to achieve this success," he said in a statement from the Malaysian Football League (MFL) today.
Meanwhile, Pahang midfielder, Nor Azam Abdul Azih said it would not be easy for him to win the Best Midfielder category this time around.
"I have been nominated four times in this category, including this year, but I still have not managed to win it and I can’t say who is going to win it, because the other nine candidates are all formidable.
"Actually, this year has been a bit disappointing for me personally compared to last year, so let's see who is most qualified to win the award," he said.
The other nine candidates for the category are Safawi Rasid (JDT), Afiq Fazail (JDT), Brendan Gan (Selangor), Gonzalo Cabrera (JDT), Leandro dos Santos (Perak), Leandro Velazquez (JDT), Lee Tuck (TFC), Faisal Abdul Halim (Pahang) and Syahmi Safari (Selangor).
The winner will be selected based on the votes from fans and a professional jury consisting of players, coaches and media personnel.
Supporters can still vote for their favourite candidates at ‘bit.ly/ABK20Fans’ until 11.59 pm, this Friday (Dec 25).
-- BERNAMA
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