Manickum wins Futsal Player of the Year

Words: ACFC Media

Thursday 1 October 2020

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City FC's Futsal Whites star Dylan Manickum has won the Futsal Player of the Year title at the New Zealand Football Awards.

The 28-year-old Manickum took out the category ahead of Futsal Whites team-mate Miroslav Malivuk and Waikato Rapids Ethan Martin.

Manickum was delighted with the prize and paid tribute to friends, family, peers and coaches.

"Thank you for the award for Futsal Player of the Year this past season. I'm really stoked to win the award this year among some really good candidates," he said.

Manickum, who won the ISPS Handa Premiership with Auckland City FC last season, was also a key figure as the Futsal Whites went agonisingly close to qualifying for the FIFA Futsal World Cup.

Beaten by the Solomon Islands 2-1 on penalties after a thrilling 5-5 draw in the final at L'Arène du Sud, Païta, New Caledonia, Manickum is set for a big season in the SuperLeague with Auckland City FC.

Elbow bump @DylanManickum, Men's Futsal Player Of The Year! #NZFAwards pic.twitter.com/7iHBiDk0tY
— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) October 1, 2020

But in the meantime, he expressed his satisfaction at winning the Player of the Year.

"I couldn't have done it without the help of my coaches and fellow players who supported me through this journey.I'd also like to thank my family for their support.

"As I said, I'm really stoked to have won and offer my congratulations to all the other winners."

In another Auckland City FC link, Maxine Cooper won NZF Women's Futsal Player of the Year, Cooper worked as a team manager for Navy Blues youth teams and was a Futsal coach for the club's ACademy delivery at Diocesan School.

Cooper also delivered a term of skills centre coaching as well.

Way to go Maxine Cooper, Women's Futsal Player Of The Year! #NZFAwards pic.twitter.com/RxL2wy8gD5
— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) October 1, 2020

Another Navy Blues award nominee, Nic Downes, lost out to Sam Masterson for Futsal Coach of the Year while men's first team coach, Jose Figueira, missed out on Coach of the Year to outgoing New Zealand U-23 coach Des Buckingham.

In the category of Domestic Player of the Year, Myer Bevan was pipped by Jack Henry Sinclair of Team Wellington.

Ends

Details

NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL AWARDS 2020

FUTSAL

NZF FUTSAL TEAM OF THE YEAR: Waikato Rapids
NZF MEN'S FUTSAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Dylan Manickum (Auckland City FC/Futsal Ferns)
NZF WOMEN'S FUTSAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Maxine Cooper (Auckland Football Federation/Futsal Ferns)
NZF FUTSAL COACH OF THE YEAR: Sam Masterson (Waikato Rapids)
NZF MEN'S FUTSAL REFEREE OF THE YEAR: Antony Riley
NZF WOMEN'S FUTSAL REFEREE OF THE YEAR: Anna-Marie Keighley

FULL LIST OF AWARD WINNERS

International Men’s Player of the Year – Chris Wood (All Whites/Burnley)
International Women’s Player of the Year – Rebekah Stott (Football Ferns/Melbourne City)

Domestic Women’s Player of the Year – Steph Skilton (Auckland Football)
Domestic Men’s Player of the Year – Jack-Henry Sinclair (Team Wellington)

Men’s Young Player of the Year – Sarpreet Singh (All Whites/U-20 Men/Bayern Munich)
Women’s Young Player of the Year – Claudia Bunge (Football Ferns/Northern Lights)

Men’s Referee of the Year – Matt Conger
Women’s Referee of the Year – Anna-Marie Keighley

Men’s Assistant Referee of the Year – Mark Rule
Women’s Assistant Referee of the Year – Sarah Jones

Men’s Coach of the Year – Des Buckingham (U-23 Men/U-20 Men)
Women’s Coach of the Year – Alana Gunn (Canterbury United Pride)

Team of the Year – New Zealand U-20 Men

Player of the Year – Chris Wood

Video footage reproduced courtesy New Zealand Football