Donga named Warriors’ player of the year

BY ROMULUS HUTA

Jerry Donga receiving the Warriors player of the year award from club president Hon Bodo Dettke.

MIDFIELDER Jerry Donga was named as Solomon Warriors’ player of the year.

Donga received the accolade during the club’s awards night held last Saturday in Honiara.

The attacking midfielder who is also a member of the national senior men’s soccer team was an integral performing member of the Moses Toata-coached winning side during the 2017/18 season.

This was despite nursing a late injury since last December which somehow played little effect in his performance heading into the Oceania Champions League and the Telekom S-League championship series recently.

Donga’s name will be imprinted onto a perpetual shield which also bears the names of other previous winning recipients’ namely former striker Kidston Billy, Micah Lea’alafa and Hardis Aengari.

Receiving the award, Donga was proud to be honoured with the club’s highest ranked title.

“I thanked the management of the club for recognising me this season.

“I hope this will be used to help me push forward next season.”

During the awards night, other players were also rewarded for their hardwork throughout the season.

The awards were given according to various categories by taking into account the performances from the Telekom S-League (TSL) league competition, TSL championship series and the Oceania Club Champions League.

The top performers in the TSL league competition are Hardis Aengari (Best Defender), Izomo Bird (Best Goalkeeper), John Alick (Best midfielder) and Tigi Molea (Best striker/golden boot).

In the TSL championship series, the top performers are Joseph Komu (Best Goalkeeper), Bata Furai (Best Defender), Jerry Donga (Best Midfielder) and Kensi Tangis (best striker/golden boot).

For top performers in the Oceania Club Champions League, Bird had his name called up for the best goalkeeper’s award for the second for the second time of the night, Allan Peter (Best Defender), Judd Molea (Best Midfielder) and Gagame Feni (best striker/golden boot).

Defender Emmanuel Poila received the most committed player award for his good attitude and behaviour toward training while Albert Wetney was given the Most Promising Young Player’s Award.

The awards ceremony was wrapped up with contracted players and officials been rewarded with their end-of-season pay-out totalling up to $360,000 from the club’s official sponsor.

Meanwhile, Warriors had a successful campaign last season by winning both the TSL league title and the TSL championship series.

In the recent Oceania Champions League, the club had also reached new heights by qualifying past the group phase and into the quarterfinal for the first time – something head coach Moses Toata plans on to surpass and promises to fulfil next season.

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