Ozu and Molly Clark win 2021 Best Player awards in Dubai

Another momentous night saw the 2021 season’s very best receive the awards for being at the very pinnacle of the sport.

The gala was kicked off with a speech by BSWW President Joan Cusco, who thanked the people gathered and offered a special thank you to the event partners and to Dubai Sports Council for organising yet another incredible Intercontinental Cup and the Beach Soccer Stars.

Next, HE Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council, extended his thanks to the audience as well as everyone who worked at the events in Dubai.

“On behalf of my family, Dubai Sports Council, to you, I would like to thank you all and I hope to see you next year.”

The Best Event was then presented by Mr Hareb, and the winner was the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, collected by Alex Alaev, Secretary General of the RFU, who said that the success of the event and the award was a “dream come true.”

The Best Coach award went to the victories coach of 2021 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, Mikhail Likhachev of Russia.

Nicolae Ignat from Moldova won Best Goal, with his screamer in the EBSL Regular Phase in Moldova and after an incredible World Cup, winning the CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations and performing in the Intercontinental Cup, Raoul Mendy from Senegal won the Rising Star award.

As for the safest pair of hands in the game, the Best Goalkeeper trophy went to Eliott from Switzerland. Eilott’s performance in Russia helped Switzerland reach third place in the World Cup, and he was awarded the FIFA Golden Glove.

Then it was time for the dream team of beach soccer, the award known as the Best 5 Stars. Eliott was named as the keeper, while in front of him in defence were Japan’s Ozu and Brazil’s Catarino. In front of them, were Borer from Switzerland and Be Martins from Portugal.

After that, it was time for the grand finale of the event – the Best Players of the year.

First to be presented was the Women’s Best Player award, and it went to England’s Molly Clark, who paid tribute to her teammates and said that she works every day to be at her best. It was the second time Clark had been nominated for the award but was beaten to it in 2018 by Russian Marina Federova.

Finally, Ozu Moreira, Japanese captain, was announced as the Best Player of 2021. On receiving the award, he gave a speech in Japanese to his teammates in the audience and watching at home.

Brazilian-born Ozu moved to Japan 15 years ago and has since changed the face of the entire sport there, leading the Samurai Blue to the final of the World Cup. He thanked the nation and his teammates for the award and for welcoming him into their country.

Another incredible Beach Soccer Stars comes to an end, and the top talents in the sport head back to their hotels with their trophies.

Meanwhile we look ahead to a new beach soccer season which, in the words of BSWW President promises to be the “biggest beach soccer season yet.”