Adelaide United FC midfielder Zenon Caravella has become the sixth recipient of the Adelaide United FC Club Champion Award after he took out the club’s top individual honour for 2011/12.
Adelaide United FC midfielder Zenon Caravella has become the sixth recipient of the Adelaide United FC Club Champion Award after he took out the club-s top individual honour for 2011/12.
While the Reds- ninth placed finish may have largely made it a season to forget collectively, on an individual note Caravella made his debut season with the club one to remember after Coach John Kosmina made the announcement of the Club Champion at a gala event at the Festival Function Centre tonight.
Caravella edged out talented local Osama Malik and captain Eugene Galekovic for the top prize, which is awarded to the player that is seen to have made a significant and positive difference to the team-s performance while also representing the club in an exemplary way on the field.
Despite narrowly missing out on the Club Champion Award, Malik-s and Galekovic-s impressive seasons did not go unrewarded or unnoticed.
Malik took out the Rising Star Award for the best young player who demonstrated the greatest growth in their development as a professional, while Galekovic claimed his second Player-s Player Award, which is voted on by his peers as the player to have consistently been the most valuable on the park.
Having joined the Reds from Gold Coast United at the end of the 2010/11 campaign, Caravella has shown from the time he arrived in Adelaide that he wears his heart on his sleeve every time he takes the field.
Playing in 25 of a possible 27 games in 2011/12, of which he started in 21 of them, the Cairns born midfielder-s solitary goal came in Week 6 against his former side, Caravella-s consistency across the course of the year going a way to him claiming the honour.
“It was totally unexpected but it-s a lovely thing to get any award at any club and I-m very happy,” Caravella said.
“I go out to play and do what I can and try to get everyone involved and get the mood going, but to win this is fantastic.”
“I-ve won an NSL championship before and that was a highlight of my career and this is right up there, to have this award I-m very honoured.”
“I-ve got to thank my wife for everything she has done, I couldn-t do what I do without her support, and I also want to thank the supporters that come out every week and stick with us through thick and thin.”
The other award winners on the night saw defender Nigel Boogaard take out Best Team Man, while the Youth Team Most Valuable Player (MVP) went to Jordan Elsey and W-League MVP to Abby Erceg.
Adelaide United 2011/12 Award Winners
Club Champion – Zenon Caravella
Player-s Player – Eugene Galekovic
Best Team Man – Nigel Boogaard
Rising Star – Osama Malik
Youth Team Most Valuable Player – Jordan Elsey
W-League Team Most Valuable Player – Abby Erceg
