Strikers Thomas James of Canberra Croatia and Keira Bobbin of Belconnen United have been crowned the OPC National Premier League Player’s of the Year at the 2025 Capital Football Awards Night at the Rex Hotel in Braddon.
James, who had forty goal contributions in the successful league campaign with sixteen goals and twenty-four assists, was a standout winner of the Men’s award, whilst Bobbin was part of the Blue Devils quadruple winning team and won the Golden Boot scoring twenty-seven goals.
The respective age grade Player of the Year awards went to Canberra Croatia stars Anthony Rakic in Men’s NPL U23 and Pia McGhie in NPL Women’s Reserves.
In the Capital Premier League, ANU FC goal machine Jack Gibson was named as the Player of the Year with Adam Exarhos of Canberra Juventus topping the poll to claim the CPL U23 gong.
Joshua Eiser was nominated as top whistleblower in the Capital Football Federation, the referee also claiming the NPL Senior Referee of the Year to complete a double, with the promising Tom Love awarded with the Youth equivalent, and Ricardo Alberto the CPL version.
Lindsay Cunningham of Weston Molonglo took out the overall Coach of the Year Award, having also claimed the Community Coach of the Year, with Belconnen United sealing a trifecta of trophies in this category as Scott Conlon (Senior NPL), Darren Rodda (Youth NPL) and Angelo Zaris (CPL) also honoured.
Futsal was also recognised with Jayde James-Ward of UC Stars and Stella De Marco of North Canberra Fire named CFL Players of the Year, Jason Farrell (West Canberra Lightning) was Coach of the Year, and Hyunwoo Jeon claimed the Referee of the Year Award for the indoor game.
Tuggeranong United walked home with the Innovative Club Program of the Year, with South Canberra winning the Club of the Year, and the Volunteers were also recognised as Isabella Kane (Canberra Croatia) won Youth Volunteer of the Year, and Bob Parkin (Majura FC) the senior award.
OPC NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUE
OPC NPL Men’s Player of the Year: Thomas James (Canberra Croatia)
OPC NPL U23 Payer of the Year: Anthony Rakic (Canberra Croatia)
OPC NPL Men’s Team of the Year
GOALKEEPER: Nick Middleton (Queanbeyan City)
DEFENDERS: Tony Spaseski (Canberra Croatia), Nahuel Guerrero (Queanbeyan City), Fernando Jorquera (Monaro Panthers), Darren Bailey (Yoogali SC)
MIDFIELDERS: Ryan Straub (Monaro Panthers), Robert Tkatchenko (Monaro Panthers), Nikola Jadric (Canberra Croatia)
FORWARDS: Thomas James (Canberra Croatia), Daniel Barac (Monaro Panthers), Nick Pratezina (Canberra Croatia)
OPC NPL Women’s Player of the Year: Keira Bobbin (Belconnen United)
OPC NPL Women’s Reserve Player of the Year: Pia McGhie (Canberra Croatia)
OPC NPL Women’s Team of the Year
GOALKEEPER: Janet King (Canberra Olympic)
DEFENDERS: Ailish McDonagh (Belconnen United), Bronte Pyke (Belconnen United), Madeliene Perceval (Gungahlin United), Lauren Preston (Belconnen United)
MIDFIELDERS: Anneke Corry (Belconnen United), Isabella Hindmarsh (Belconnen United), Tianah Miro (Canberra Olympic)
FORWARDS: Keira Bobin (Belconnen United), Tatum Mazis (Canberra Croatia), Tamara Cochrane (West Canberra Wanderers)
CAPITAL PREMIER LEAGUE
CPL Player of the Year: Jack Gibson (ANU FC)
CPL U23 Player of the Year: Adam Exarhos (Canberra Juventus)
CPL Team of the Year
GOALKEEPER: Rhys Flissinger (Brindabella Blues)
DEFENDERS: Monteagh Grace (ANU FC), Izach Clements (Belconnen United), Pedro Serrano (Belconnen United), Nick Faust (Canberra Olympic)
MIDFIELDERS: Patrick O’Rourke (Belconnen United), Adrian Macor (Canberra Juventus), Antoni Timotheou (Canberra Olympic)
FORWARDS: Dustin Wells (Belconnen United), Curtis Schaeffer (Brindabella Blues), Jack Gibson (ANU FC)
FUTSAL
The Capital Futsal League was recognised with a selection of Player of the Year and Team of the Year for both Men and Women. UC Stars’ Jayde James-Ward claimed the award as Male Player of the Year, whilst Stella De Marco of North Canberra Fire scooped the Female Award.
Men’s Player of the Year: Jayde James-Ward (UC Stars)
Men’s Team of the Year
GOALKEEPER: Jamie-Lee Guo (UC Stars)
DEFENDER: Daniel Fulton (West Canberra Lightning)
WING: Joseph Mermingis (QP Power)
WING: Jayde James-Ward (UC Stars)
PIVOT: Nicholas Dahl (UC Stars)
Women’s Player of the Year: Stella De Marco (North Canberra Fire)
Women’s Team of the Year
GOALKEEPER: Jessica Giovinazzo (North Canberra Fire)
DEFENDER: Stella De Marco (North Canberra Fire)
WING: Tatum Mazis (North Canberra Fire)
WING: Brittany Palombi (West Canberra Lightning)
Pivot: Jamie Berkeley (West Canberra Lightning)
COACHES
Capital Football Coach of the Year: Lindsay Cunningham (Weston Molonglo FC)
NPL Senior Coach of the Year: Scott Conlon (Belconnen United)
NPL Youth Coach of the Year: Darren Rodda (Belconnen United)
CPL Coach of the Year: Angelo Zaris (Belconnen United)
Community Coach of the Year: Lindsay Cunningham (Weston Molonglo FC)
CFL Coach of the Year: Jason Farrell (West Canberra Lightning)
REFEREES
Referee of the Year: Joshua Eiser
NPL Referee of the Year: Joshua Eiser
NPL Youth Referee of the Year: Tom Love
CPL Referee of the Year: Ricardo Alberto
Futsal Referee of the Year: Hyunwoo Jeon
OTHER AWARDS
Innovative Program of the Year: Tuggeranong United
Club of the Year: South Canberra
Youth Volunteer of the Year: Isabella Kane (Canberra Croatia)
Volunteer of the Year: Bob Parkin (Majura FC)
