Tigers FC midfielder Tomohiro Ogawa was crowned as the Capital Football Men’s National Premier League Player of the Year at the Federation’s Annual Awards Night held at the Rex Hotel in Braddon, whilst the Women’s award was jointly shared by Canberra Olympic duo Jaya Bowman and Madelyn Whittall.
The awards reflected the trio’s part in their team’s successful season, Ogawa a shining beacon in the heart of the Tigers FC team that ended the season strongly to reach the Grand Final, Bowman and Whittall integral parts of the almost all-conquering Olympic outfit that won the League Championship, Grand Final, and Charity Shield.
Queanbeyan City’s Argentinean lynchpin, Nahuel Guerrero, stormed to the title of Capital Premier League Player of the Season, capping an impressive year for City who achieved promotion to the top tier and claimed Grand Final glory at the Riverside Stadium.
Elsewhere, Yoogali FC stalwart Sante Donadel was awarded the Volunteer of Year, whilst South Canberra collected the Club of the Year gong. Tuggeranong United scooped the new Award for Innovative Program of the Year, providing opportunities for players to engage with areas and topics that are not related to their pure football ability.
Capital Football also welcomed two new recruits into their Hall of Fame with local legends Andy Bernal and Amy Duggan recognised and honoured for their parts in promoting the region through their respective, and storied, football careers, two very worthy recipients.
In the Coach’s Awards, Cristal King of Belconnen United CPL U23 was named Coach of the Year after her side had won the League Championship, whilst Blue Devil Scott Conlon was named as the NPLW Coach of the Year. His Canberra Croatia counterpart Dean Ugrinic claimed the NPLM version of this Award.
There was double delight for Nathan Shakespear in the Referee Awards category, the whistleblower winning the NPLM Referee off the Year, and overall Referee of the Year Awards with newcomer Lauren Riddel being rewarded for an excellent debut season with the NPLW Referee of the Year trophy.
Capital Football congratulates all of its winners.
AWARD WINNERS
NPL Men’s Player of the Year: TOMOHIRO OGAWA (Tigers FC)
NPL Women’s Player of the Year: JAYA BOWMAN & MADELYN WHITTALL (Canberra Olympic)
CPL Player of the Year: NAHUEL GUERRERO (Queanbeyan City)
Innovative Program of the Year: TUGGERANONG UNITED
Volunteer of the Year: SANTE DONADEL (Yoogali FC)
Club of the Year: SOUTH CANBERRA
Hall of Fame Inductees: ANDY BERNAL, AMY DUGGAN
Junior League Coach of the Year: CALLIE LEIGHTON (Canberra Grammar School)
Community league Coach of the Year: GEOFF YOUNG (Monaro Panthers)
NPL Girls Coach of the Year: RHIANNON FENSOM (Canberra Croatia)
NPL Boys Coach of the Year: DALISTO MAKUWIRA (Belconnen United)
CPL Men Coach of the Year: CRISTAL KING (Belconnen United)
NPL Women Coach of the Year: SCOTT CONLON (Belconnen United)
NPL Men Coach of the Year: DEAN UGRINIC (Canberra Croatia)
Coach of the Year: CRISTAL KING (Belconnen United)
Community League Referee of the Year: ANDREW FORSTER
NPL and CPL Youth Referee of the Year: LACHLAN LI CHIANG
CPL Men Referee of the Year: DARREN GLEDHILL
NPL Women Referee of the Year: LAUREN RIDDEL
NPL Men Referee of the Year: NATHAN SHAKESPEAR
Referee of the Year: NATHAN SHAKESPEAR