Ferwafa, Azam to organise second Player of the Year awards

Rwanda Football Federation (Ferwafa) and Azam TV, the national league sponsors, have formally agreed to award the best performers at the end of the season. The objective of the scheme is to reward home-grown talent and to increase competitiveness of the local league through recognition of outstanding footballers playing in the 16-team topflight division. Last season, Rayon Sports’ Burundian attacking midfielder Pierrot Kwizera won the first award for Player of the Year, his teammate Savio Nshuti won the Young Player of the Year while Police FC forward Dany Usengimana and Muhadjir Hakizimana (Mukura) shared the league’s Top Scorer award with 16 goals. According to officials, the awards scheme for the Player of the Year will be developed using the most competitive criteria. For instance, a technical score criteria which forms the major selection format looks at a player’s ability to demonstrate the eagerness to search, manage and serve the ball as well as the scores made. This criteria was developed in close conjunction with Ferwafa’s selection committee and a group of eight journalists. Other important items that forms the selection criteria for the Player of the Year includes morale, fair play, ability to demonstrate skillful moves and social aspects such as demonstration of exemplary moral conduct. Since the start of the season Azam and Ferwafa have been awarding the Player of the Month. The Player of the Month is voted for by fans after being nominated by a team of four technicians and eight journalists. The Player of the Year will earn Rwf1m. Awards category Player of the Year Top Scorer Best Young Player Mostly Promising Player Best Goalkeeper Goal of the Season Best Coach Team of the Year Fan Club of the Year Best Referee editorial@newtimes.co.rw