Enyeama Emerges AIT 2010 Footballer Of The Year …Enyimba Sweeps Clubside Awards

Isreali based Super Eagles number one keeper, Vincent Enyeama last night in Port Harcourt emerged the AIT 2010 Footballer of the Year in a glamorous awards ceremony.

Enyeama, who was instrumental to Nigeria’s near respectable performance at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the first on African soil, beat other two nominees, Super Eagles team mates, Osaze Odemwinge, who won the awards in the inaugural edition  in 2009 and Kalu Uche

Speaking shortly after receiving the awards, Enyeama said that the award was a dream come true for him.

According to him, he was not really expecting the award but dreamt of it and was grateful to all those that contributed to his performance and emergence including team mates, technical crew and backroom staff of the national team, family members and organisers of the ceremony.

Other winners in different categories include Perpetua Nkwocha, who retained her National Women Footballer of the Year title, Ahmed Musa, formerly of Kano Pillars won the National Footballer of the Year award (male) and Desire Oparanozie of the Falcons and Falconets emerge the female counterpart.

Kenneth Kumbur, the Most Valuable Player, MVP of the 2010 Shell Cup competition and a member of the National Under 17 team that failed to qualified for Rwanda 2011 beat Stanley Okoro and Ramon Azeez to the Young Player of the Year award (male) while Loveth Ayila of the Famingoes beat Ngozi Okobu and Francesca Ordega to the female category of the  Young Player of the Year award (female).

Falcons Coach, Eucharia Uche won the National Coach of the Year, beating Egan Edet and Peter Dederbo, while the Super Falcons beat other National Female Youth teams to emerge National Team of the Year.

Enyimba International FC of Aba swept the stakes in the club categories, emerging the Premier League Club of the year, as well as nicking the club coach of the year in Okey Emordi and Football Administrator of the year in Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu.

In the media category, Tana Aiyejina and Godwin Enakhena won the football writer and Presenter of the year for the print and electronic media, respectively.

Tom Tom, Guinness Plc and Shell/NNPC went home with the national team sponsor, football brand and grassroots promoters of the year awards, respectively..

There was also a special post humonous award for Chief Natheniel Idowu.

The high points of the ceremony includes the presentation of the Best Africa Star at the 2010 FIFA World Cup to Ghana Black Star Asamoah Gyan and the Most Outstanding corporate Sponsor for the 210 award to Rivers State Government, received by Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi.

The well attended ceremony, soley sponsored by the Rivers State Government witnessed the presence of the cream de la cream of the sports confraternity in Nigeria and beyond, including, ex-internationals, national sports commission and Nigerians Football Federation, NFF, officials and government functionaries.