2 Dec 2004(Thu)

MVP awards serve their purpose by attracting lots of attention to individual players.

But do they serve the game as a whole?

Personally, I don't think so.

Just look at the three nominees for the Asian Football Confederation's MVP for 2004.

Bahrain's A'ala Hubail, Iran's Ali Karimi and Japan's very own Shunsuke Nakamura are all attacking players.

There is no recognition of defensive players, either in midfield or at the back, and this is why I think these awards are fundamentally flawed.

For example, I thought that Yuji Nakazawa was Japan's best player at the Asian Cup in China, and throughout the first round of World Cup qualifying.

Especially against Oman in Muscat, where Japan won 1-0 to clinch a place in the eight-team final round next year.

But the role Nakazawa plays is not a glamorous one, even though he has scored some crucial goals for club and country.

On the pitch and off the pitch, I think Nakazawa would have been the ideal Asian Player of the Year, as he has worked hard at his game and reached the top thanks to his own determination.

He is a very bubbly personality, and surely would do well in Europe. The last I heard, a German club had shown interest in him, and that is quite a compliment as the Germans traditionally are some of the best defenders in the world.

After Japan's match in Muscat, an AFC insider told me they were trying to get Nakazawa on the shortlist for Player of the Year, but their efforts have failed.

Shunsuke, of course, must be the favourite to win the award, as he was voted MVP of the Asian Cup.

The other two, Hubail and Karimi, both scored five goals during the tournament, and also helped their countries qualify for the final round of World Cup qualifying next year.

Japanese and Iranian players have dominated this award in the past, so the AFC may be tempted to give it to 22-year-old Hubail in recognition of Bahrain's rise in the rankings.

The award will be presented in Kuala Lumpur on December 8, the day before the draw for the final qualifying round.

ends