SOLOMON Islands Football Federation (SIFF) Technical Director Felipe Vega-Arango is heading off to England this morning to attend the Best FIFA Football Awards official ceremony in London.
Felipe played an instrumental role in the Solomon Islands national team 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and recently provided technical assistance to the national U-19s and national U-16 team’s historic qualification to FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru next year.
Current national team coach Moses Toata was also invited to attend the ceremony.
Felipe said it is a great opportunity to share his experience in the Solomon Islands with top football minds in London.
He added that it’s not just an honour but a huge thrill to be sharing with the greatest footballers in the world.
Apart from the official ceremony, Felipe will do a presentation in a workshop leading up the main event at London’s Royal Festival Hall.
The Spaniard picked Croatia and Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric as his best FIFA Men’s Player.
Meanwhile, the finalists for The Best FIFA Football Awards™ 2018, world football’s premium awards event, have been announced, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Marta, Asako Takakura and Hugo Lloris named amongst the nominees.
The finalists, was revealed at a special media event held in London with FIFA Legends Sol Campbell, Kelly Smith, Nwankwo Kanu and Peter Schmeichel, have been recognised for their achievements in elite football between July 2017 and July 2018 – a period that saw the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ take place in Russia.
In a year that was filled with drama, action and excitement across both the men’s and women’s game, The Best FIFA Football Awards 2018 look set to build on the success of 2017’s event and return to London bigger and better than ever.
The winners will be crowned at the Royal Festival Hall (Southbank) on 24 September 2018, where the great and good of world football will descend upon the city to celebrate the very “best” the sport has to offer.
The shortlisted candidates for The Best FIFA Football Awards 2018 are:
The Best FIFA Men’s Player:
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Juventus FC, formerly Real Madrid CF)
Luka Modrić (Croatia/Real Madrid CF)
Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool FC)
The Best FIFA Women’s Player:
Ada Hegerberg (Norway/Olympique Lyonnais)
Dzsenifer Marozsán (Germany/Olympique Lyonnais)
Marta (Brazil/Orlando Pride)
The Best FIFA Men’s Coach:
Zlatko Dalić (Croatia/Croatia national team)
Didier Deschamps (France/France national team)
Zinédine Zidane (France/formerly Real Madrid CF)
The Best FIFA Women’s Coach:
Reynald Pedros (France/Olympique Lyonnais)
Asako Takakura (Japan/Japan national team)
Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands/Netherlands national team)
The Best FIFA Goalkeeper:
Thibaut Courtois (Belgium/Real Madrid CF, formerly Chelsea FC)
Hugo Lloris (France/Tottenham Hotspur FC)
Kasper Schmeichel (Denmark/Leicester City FC)
FIFA Puskás Award:
Gareth Bale (Real Madrid CF) – v. Liverpool FC
Denis Cheryshev (Russia) – v. Croatia
Lazaros Christodoulopoulos (AEK FC) – v. Olympiacos FC
Giorgian De Arrascaeta (Cruzeiro) – v. América MG
Riley McGree (Newcastle Jets FC) – v. Melbourne City FC
Lionel Messi (Argentina) – v. Nigeria
Benjamin Pavard (France) – v. Argentina
Ricardo Quaresma (Portugal) – v. IR Iran
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid CF) – v. Juventus FC
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool FC) – v. Everton FC
FIFA Fan Award:
Sebastián Carrera (Deportes Puerto Montt, Chile)
Peru fans
Japan and Senegal fans
Winners for all of the awards will be revealed across FIFA’s social media platforms on Monday 24 September, so make sure you are following @FIFAcom and tracking the hashtags #TheBest, #Puskas and #FIFAFootballAwards.
By SIFF MEDIA