Australia’s Jamie Dwyer captures fourth’ FIH Player of the Year’ award
Australian hockey legend, Jamie Dwyer has made history, after he was awarded the ‘Player of the Year’ award for the fourth time. The International Hockey Federation (FIH) made the announcement of Friday and said it was due to Dwyers outstanding performance
during the this year, during which Australia won the World Cup, Champions Trophy and Commonwealth Games gold.
Jamie Dwyer is the first male to receive the award. Luciana Aymar of Argentina has won the Best player award for women seven times. Before the 2010 award, Jamie Dwyer and Teun De Nooijer of the Netherlands were equivalent with three awards apiece.
Dwyer, the 31-year-old Australian, was awarded the title on 12 November, 2010 at the Congress & Forum of International Hockey Federation (FIH) in Montreux, Switzerland. He has also received the award in 2004, 2007 and 2009.
The Australian hockey team has had a brilliant year, in which they became the only nation to win three major titles in the same year. They bagged the Champions Trophy, World Cup and the Commonwealth Games titles. The Australian squad lost just one game this
year –a pool game against England in the World Cup.
Jamie Dwyer has been in brilliant form in 2010 and has captained the Australian national side to a number of important victories. He has scored 160 goals in 254 matches and played a pivotal role in the triumphs of Australia.
The Australian skipper Jamie Dwyer overcame a number of star names to win the coveted Player of the year award, which includes Barry Middleton of England, the legendary dutch player Teun De Nooijer, South Korea’s Jonh Ho Seo and German Moritz Furste.
Jamie scored a classic goal in the 2004 Olympics by dribbling past two defenders and led his side to victory after 48 years in the event. He delivers unique performances in the game and likes to take calculated risks.
Jamie expressed great joy saying that even though his club side won the Australian Hockey League in this year, the success of the national team is more pleasing.
Dwyer, the World’s best player, greeted the Kookaburras squad after receiving his award. Jamie said, "It is a great honour to win the ‘Player of the Year’ award again and to become the first player to win it four times is fantastic and something I am feeling
very proud of.”
He further said that he had good game but he is part of a brilliant squad, which performed vital role in this regard. He thanked all the coaching staff and team members particularly Ric Charlesworth, the head coach of Australian hockey team.
Dwyer added that the most crucial upcoming games for them are the semi-final and final of the London Olympics after two years. They would try to continue their winning momentum in the future as well, he added.
He further said, "We obviously want to qualify for the London Olympics, but the development we have done this year and the excitement that is being yielded by the squad gives us something special.”
Lucian Aymar of Argentina was honoured as the Women’s Player of the Year while Tobias Hauke of Germany and Zhao Yudiao of China won the Best Young Player of the Year awards in the men’s and women’s categories.
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