S. OchiengMichael Olunga shortlisted for MVP Award in Qatar
Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 08.05.23. | 17:20
The winner will be announced on Saturday 13 May 2023
After missing out on the gong last year, Harambee Stars marksman Michael Olunga will be looking to add the Qatar Football Association (QFA) Best Player of the Year award to his illustrious trophy cabinet after being named in the final list following another impressive campaign in the 2022/2023 season.
The Al Duhail forward will face competition from Qatari international Akram Afif who plies his trade at Al Sadd and Tunisian midfielder Youssef Msakni currently on the books of Al Arabi.
“The Board of Trustees of the Qatar Football Association Awards approved the final nominees for the Best Awards for the 2022-2023 football season, after the end of the voting process and sorting and approving the forms (53 forms), which had been sent to the participating parties in the voting process on May 2, 2023,” a statement for the league body read.
Olunga landed himself the nomination after another fruitful season where the former Gor Mahia man netted 18 goals, putting him joint top of the top scorer’s charts alongside Al Arabi’s Omar Al Somah.
Harambee Stars captain @OgadaOlunga nominated for the Best Player of the season award for the 2ns year in a row.
— Ochieng' Stephen (@soo_ochieng) May 8, 2023
Despite emerging as the Top Scorer last season, he lost it to Akram Afif who is also in the running again.
The winner will be announced on Saturday.#StarsAbroad pic.twitter.com/8JOrHqkKlD
The Kenyan international further chipped in with three assists to put his side in prime position to clinch their first league title since the 19/20 season should results go their way in the final round of matches being played on Monday.
Duhail, who have a two-point lead over Al Arabi, could clinch the title without needing favours if they beat Al-Shamal at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium.
Msakni and Afif on the other hand have scored 13 (5 assists) and 10 goals (4 assists) respectively.
Despite emerging as the Top Scorer last season with a massive 24 goals and helping his side clinch the Emir Cup, Olunga lost the Best Player of the Year award to Afif who had managed 14 goals.
Apart from Olunga, Duhail has another nomination in the coach of the year category where their tactician Hernan Crespo is on the list alongside midfielder imageKhaled Mohamed who has been nominated for the best player Under the age of 23 in the league.
The nominees for the award for the best player under 23 years old
Osama Al-Tiri - Al-Rayyan Club
Jassim Jaber - Al Arabi Club
Khaled Mohamed Saleh - Al-Duhail Club
The nominees for the Best Coach Award
Bartolome Marquez Lopez - Al-Wakra Club
Hernan Crespo - Al-Duhail Club
Younes Ali - Al Arabi Club
The nominees for the Best Player Award
Akram Afif - Al Sadd Club
Michael Olunga - Al Duhail Club
Youssef Al-Masakni - Al-Arabi Club
The winners of the various awards will be announced during the closing ceremony of the season, which will be held on Saturday 13 May 2023 at the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC) in Education City.
