Two Iranians on 8th revised AFC Player of the Year list

The six lists published till date were based on the Most Valuable Player selections by AFC Match Commissioners and these same line-ups have now been reviewed by two technical analysts.

Following the review, seven new players have stormed into the reckoning for the coveted award which was won by Saudi Arabia’s Yasser Al Qahtani last year from a tough three-man field which also comprised Iraqi stalwarts Younes Mahmoud and Nashat Akram.

Prolific Qatari striker Sebastian Quintana (Soria), Australia’s Nathan Burns, Thailand’s Kosin Haithairattankool and Nantawat Thaensopa, Syrian Mahmoud Karkar, Mitsuo Ogasawara of Japan and Ubzek Zaynitdin Tadjiyev have caught the eye of the technical analysts to make the cut.

Further, the opinion of fans started impacting the selection from September and their choice will be reflected in future short-lists.

EIGHTH LIST OF CONTENDERS FOR AFC PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2008
(in alphabetical order; revised list as of October 2, 2008)

1. Ahmad Ajab ( Kuwait and Al Qadsia – Kuwait )
2. Ali Al Habsi ( Oman and Bolton Wanderers – England )
3. Andres Sebastian Soria Quintana ( Qatar and Qatar SC – Qatar )
4. Ebrahim Sadeghi ( Iran and Saipa – Iran )
5. Hong Yong-jo (DPR Korea and FK Bezanija – Serbia )
6. Ismael Matar (UAE and Al Wahda – UAE)
7. Javad Nekounam ( Iran and Osasuna – Spain )
8. Jehad Al Hussein ( Syria and Kuwait SC – Kuwait )
9. Kim Do-heon ( Korea Republic and WBA – England )
10. Kosin Haithairattankool ( Thailand and Chonburi – Thailand )
11. Odil Ahmedov ( Uzbekistan and Pakhtakor – Uzbekistan )
12. Mahmoud Karkar ( Syria and Al Ittihad – Syria )
13. Mitsuo Ogasawara ( Japan and Kashima Antlers - Japan )
14. Nantawat Thaensopa ( Thailand and Krung Thai Bank – Thailand )
15. Nathan Burns ( Australia and AEK Athens – Greece )
16. Server Djeparov ( Uzbekistan and Kuruvchi/Bunyodkor – Uzbekistan )
17. Yasser Al Qahtani ( Saudi Arabia and Al Hilal – Saudi Arabia )
18. Yuji Nakazawa ( Japan and Yokohama F Marinos – Japan )
19. Zaynitdin Tadjiyev ( Uzbekistan and Pakhtakor – Uzbekistan )