Endo Asia player of the year, S.Korea team of year

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KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24, 2009 (AFP) - Japan's Yasuhito Endo was voted Asian player of the year, while club Pohang Steelers and South Korea's national team both picked up prizes at a colourful ceremony here on Tuesday.

The Asian stars were honoured at the annual Asian Football Confederation awards amidst a glittering showpiece of traditional dance and acrobatic performances.

South Korea dominated the award ceremony, winning national team of the year, coach of the year for the country's Huh Jung Moo and club of the year for the Pohang Steelers.

The country's Ki Sung Yueng bagged the men's young player of the year award while Japan's Mana Iwabuchi was named women's young player for the second season running.

Japan won the fair play award while Syria's General Farouk Bouzo was given the lifetime achievement award.

A happy Endo said he was delighted with the accolade.

"I am honoured to win this award. Last year I was nominated but I did not win. I will continue to strive to play a better football," he said.

Endo, a 29-year-old creative midfielder who has won 80 caps for Japan, was nominated in 2008.

The footballer, who beat four other nominated Asian players for the title, said he hopes to help Japan reach the semi-finals stage in the 2010 World Cup.

"We hope to make it to the semi-finals. It is a tough mission. But we will do our best," he told reporters.

Endo, however said that his ambitious dream was for Japan to win the World Cup in South Africa.

Japan's best ever performance was in the 2002 World Cup when it was placed 16 out of 32 teams.

On winning the top Asian award, which went to Uzbek veteran Server Djeparov last year, Endo said he had aimed to win the trophy after failing to secure it last year.

"It was my goal to win this year and I got it," he said.

The other four nominees for the award were fellow Japanese player Kengo Nakamura of Kawasaki Frontale, Bahrain's Sayed Mohamed Adnan from Qatari club Al Khor, Iran's Hadi Aghily of Sepahan, and Syria captain Firas Al Khatib of Kuwait club Al Qadsia.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan's Ravshan Irmatov won his second straight AFC Referee award for men, once again proving to be the continent's top performer with the whistle.

A no-nonsense, professional approach earned Lebanon's Mazen Ramadan the AFC Men's Match Commissioner title.

Kanya Keomany was the toast of Laotian football after receiving the AFC Women's Match Commissioner award.