Silver Medal Dinner a success as Stuart Page claims top award
The talk of the evening was who would land this season?s 2008 Super League Player of the Year award but prior to that being announced, a flurry of other awards were announced.
Starting from the Conference League, Colo Colo?s hot shot striker Mauricio Navarrete took out the Golden Boot award scoring an unbelievable 30 goals for the season while Balmain FC?s Johnny Buonavoglia rightly was awarded the Conference League Player of the Year Award.
A former NSL star who also had a stint with A-League side Sydney FC a few years back, Buonavoglia showed his class throughout the season having led Balmain to both the Premiership and Championship for 2008.
The 32-year-old, whose birthday coincidently is on the 19th of this month, was born in Naples, Italy before coming to Australia where he played for the likes of the St George Saints, A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers, Newcastle Breakers, Parramatta Power and Sydney Olympic.
A quick wrap up of the Conference League team winners saw the Camden Tigers crowned Premiers in the Southern Conference League while Balmain FC snapped up the Northern Conference League Premiership as well as the Championship.
Hakoah-Maccabi FC picked up the Conference League Southern Fair Play award while Penang FC picked up the Conference League Northern Fair Play award.
Moving along to Division 1 and the Golden Boot Award was shared amongst two players with Spirit FC?s star striker Leonardo Papanicolaou and Stanmore Hawks? Juan Chavez both ending up with 20 goals a-piece.
Dulwich Hill goalkeeper Michael Frost was presented with the honour of being awarded the First Grade Player of the Year award while Dulwich Hill?s Frank Calcagno picked up the Division 1 Grade 20 Player of the Year award.
It was a memorable year for Spirit FC who took out both the Premiership and Championship while Hills United claimed Division 1?s Fair Play award.
Finally the Super League awards were presented and FC Bossy Liverpool?s sharpshooter Alexander Canak picked up the Golden Boot award after scoring 14 goals for the season.
Canak has already been courted by TeleChoice Premier League outfit Marconi Stallions for 2009 and it was reported that the gun striker has come to terms with the former NSL giants who will be led by new coach in charge Lee Sterrey.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles? 26-year-old custodian Ali Akbal was awarded the 2008 Goalkeeper of the Year award for his tremendous performances with the 2008 Premiers while PCYC Parramatta Eagles? promising young gun Alexander Leon picked up the Grade 20 Player of the Year award.
FC Bossy Liverpool?s Mile Todoroski took out the Super League Coach of the Year for his outstanding efforts having led his side to the 2008 Championship this season with their monumental 2-1 after extra time victory over PCYC Parramatta Eagles in the Super League Grand Final.
The former Rockdale City Suns coach was buoyant after receiving this accolade with the 48-year-old vowing that it was the players that did all the hard work throughout the season.
The scene was set for the final award namely the Super League Player of the Year award which went to Northern Tigers? number one goalkeeper Stuart Page.
The 23-year-old former A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers had a sterling year with the Tigers and was crowned top of the pops by his fellow peers and officials.
“I am truly honoured for this award that was given to me tonight.
“I know this wouldn’t have been if it weren’t for my players and coach at the Tigers but I am delighted to have recieved such an award,” Page stated.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles were took out the 2008 Premiership while FC Bossy Liverpool took out the Championship.
Other notable awards on the evening was the Referee of the Year which went to Kodhr Yaghi, Media Award which went to St Marys-Mt Druitt Star?s Kylie Stevens while Mt Druitt Town Rangers? Dott Platt received the honourable Charles Valentine Medal for her outstanding services for the game.
2008 Silver Medal Awards
CL North 1st Grade Premiers – Balmain FC
Conference League 1st Grade Champions – Balmain FC
Div 1 Grade 20 Premier Runners up – Blacktown Spartans
Div 1 Grade 20 Premiers & Champions – Spirit FC
Div 1 1st Grade Premier Runners up – Inter Lions
Div 1 1st Grade Premiers & Champions – Spirit FC
SL Grade 20 Premier Runners up – Central Coast
SL Grade 20 Premiers & Champions – Northern Tigers
SL 1st Grade Premier Runners up – PCYC Parramatta Eagles
SL 1st Grade Premiers – Bonnyrigg White Eagles
SL 1st Grade Champions – FC Bossy Liverpool
Div 1 Youth League Club Championship – Blacktown Spartans
Super Youth League Club Championship – PCYC Parramatta Eagles
SL Club Championship – Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Club Persons of the Year
Super League
Bonnyrigg White Eagles ? Bozidar Vrankovic
Fairfield City Lions ? Osman Tekin Sozer
FC Bossy Liverpool ? Salih Veletanlic
Fraser Park FC ? Roy Gomes
Granville Rage ? Steve Baker
Mt Druitt Town Rangers ? Mark Robertson
Northern Tigers ? Russell Ansems
PCYC Parramatta Eagles ? Alfred Cutajar
Rockdale City Suns ? Louie Belevski
Sydney University ? Tarek Bisher
St George ? Tony Stecca
Division 1
Blacktown Spartans ? Sue Sim
Dulwich Hill ? Jose Miguel Da Silva
Hurstville City Minotaurs ? Charlie Michael
Hurstville ZSC ? Ante Pervan
Inter Lions ? Kosta Apokis
Mounties Federation SC ? Bill Wotton
Schofield Scorpions ? Tony Mulhall
Spirit FC ? Geoff Driscoll
Stanmore Hawks ? Roula Christodoulides
Sydney Wanderers FC ? Greg Shipley
UNSW SC ? Christine Alexander
Conference League
Camden Tigers ? Graeme Cleminson
Hakoah-Maccabi FC ? Mick Vazin
Balmain SC ? Anthony Trieste
Penang FC ? John Dowzard
Springwood SC ? Bruce Smith
Conference League South Fair Play Award – Hakoah
Conference League North Fair Play Award – Penang FC
Division 1 Fair Play Award – Hills United
Super League Fair Play Award – Mt Druitt Town Rangers
Conference League Golden Boot – Mauricio Navarrete (Colo Colo)
Division 1 Golden Boot – Leonardo Papanicolaou & Juan Chavez (Spirit FC & Stanmore Hawks)
Super League Golden Boot – Alexander Canak (FC Bossy)
Conference League 1st Grade Player of the Year – Gianpaolo Buonavoglia (Balmain FC)
Division 1 Grade 20 Player of the Year – Frank Calcagno (Dulwich Hill)
Division 1 1st Grade Player of the Year – Michael Frost (Dulwich Hill)
Super League Grade 20 Player of the Year – Alexander Leon (PCYC Parramatta Eagles)
Referee of the Year – Kodhr Yaghi
Charles Valentine Medal – Dott Platt (Mt Druitt Town Rangers)
Media Award – Kylie Stevens (St Marys Star)
Goalkeeper of the Year – Ali Akbal (Bonnyrigg White Eagles)
Coach of the Year – Mile Todoroski (FC Bossy Liverpool)
Player of the Year SL 1st Grade – Stuart Page (Northern Tigers)
