Salem Al-Dawsari and Sam Kerr Win Top Honors at AFC Awards

 Salem Al-Dawsari and Sam Kerr Win Top Honors at AFC Awards

Salem Al-Dawsari and Sam Kerr Win Top Honors at AFC Awards(Image-Getty)

Salem Al-Dawsari of Saudi Arabia Receives Asian Football Confederation's Player of the Year Award, While Sam Kerr of Chelsea and Australia Claims Women's Title

Saudi Arabia's Salem Al-Dawsari has been named the Asian Football Confederation's Player of the Year, honored for his pivotal role in securing Saudi Arabia's unexpected 2-1 triumph over Argentina at the World Cup last year. Additionally, Al-Dawsari's leadership led Al-Hilal to the finals of the Asian Champions League and the Club World Cup, solidifying his claim to the coveted men's award at the AFC awards ceremony in Doha on Tuesday.

Amid the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the awards ceremony returned after a four-year hiatus, with Al-Dawsari expressing gratitude to the leadership of Saudi Arabia for their unwavering support for athletes and sports development. He emerged victorious over strong contenders such as Qatar's Almoez Ali and Australia's Mathew Leckie.

On the women's front, Sam Kerr, the forward for Chelsea and Australia, clinched the women's title for the second time, following her previous triumph in 2017. Kerr joined the ranks of esteemed female players, including Aya Miyama and Homare Sawa from Japan, as a multiple recipient of the accolade. Expressing her gratitude, Kerr acknowledged the honor of winning amidst tough competition, surpassing China's Zhang Linyang and Japan's Saki Kumagai, the 2019 titleholder.

The distinguished coaching awards were granted to Japan's Hajime Moriyasu, recognized as the best men's coach for his guidance of the Samurai Blue to the last 16 at the World Cup, and Shui Qingxia, who led China to victory in the Women's Asian Cup last February, marking the country's first continental title since 2006.