FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template

Japan’s first soccer superstar, Hidetoshi Nakata, was named Asian Player of the Year on Wednesday-bringing another accolade before he tackles the World Cup finals. The 21-year-old Bellmare Hiratsuka midfielder beat Iranian duo Khodadad Azizi, who won the 1996 award, and Karim Bagheri as well as Korean striker Choi Yong Su in the final selection.

Nakata is the second Japanese after national team captain Masami Ihara in 1995 to win the Asian Football Confederation award. Nakata has taken over from veteran striker Kazuyoshi Miura as the pin-up of the J-League-hounded by screaming young girls and outshining the nation’s galaxy of baseball and sumo stars. But the Bellmare Hiratsuka midfielder rarely offers candid views to reporters. The J-League commission has chided him for refusing to sign autographs for supporters.

Now, France 98 will be a chance for Nakata to prove if he is really a playmaker of global calibre or just an X-generation brat spoiled by media hype.

“I want to see for myself where I stand in the world,”  Nakata has told one of his few favourite sportswriters.

Nakata could not be present at the AFC gala dinner because he has been stricken by dermatitis and has a rash on his face and a high fever. He could also miss Japan’s World Cup warmup match Sunday against fellow finalists Paraguay.

Nakata sent a recorded video message saying “I’m sorry I can’t be there with you tonight but I will try my best to live up to this honour at the World Cup in France.” 

Iranian midfielder Mehdi Mahdavikia, who was named Young Player of the Year.

The 20-year-old Piruzi player, who has been linked with a move to 1997 European Cup winners Borussia Dortmund, expoded on to the Asian football scene last year during Iran World Cup’s campaign. The Iranian national team were named the National Team of the Year, despite their agonising route to qualify for the World Cup finals. They reached the finals for the first time in 20 years when they beat Australia in an Asia-Oceania play-off on away goals. Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal won the Asian Club award. Cha Bum Kun became the second Korean to be named Asia’s top coach. His national team predecessor Park Jong Hwan won the award in 1995 after leading Ilhwa Chunma to the Asian Club Championship. Korea became the first Asian side to qualify for June’s World Cup. Under the guidance of Cha, a former top player, they lost just once in the qualifying rounds.

Referee of the Year award went to Kuwait’s Mane Saad Kameel while S.

Wickermatunga of Sri Lanka was named Assistant Referee of the Year. China took the Women’s Team of the Year award and South Korea the Fairplay trophy.

The AFC dinner was attended by outgoing FIFA president Joao Havelange, and the two candidates vying for his position-UEFA president Lennart Johansson and FIFA general secretary Sepp Blatter. The AFC holds its two-day annual congress from Thursday.

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