Tim Cahill Named Oceania Player Of The Year

Ahead of one of the biggest games of his career, Australian football international Tim Cahill received a boost today when he was named the Oceania Football Confederation Player of the Year for 2004.

Ahead of one of the biggest games of his career, Australian football international Tim Cahill received a boost today when he was named the Oceania Football Confederation Player of the Year for 2004.   Everton take on Merseyside rivals Liverpool this Sunday and a win for Cahill's team would almost certainly secure a place in the European Champions League next season.    Cahill will then head to Australia to take his place in the Australian squad to take on Iraq at Telstra Stadium in Sydney on Saturday 26 March and Indonesia at Subiaco Oval in Perth on Tuesday 29 March.   OFC General Secretary Tai Nicholas said it was due reward for Cahill who left his home in Sydney at the age of 16 to pursue his dream of playing football at the highest level.    "Tim has had a wonderful season and is a deserved winner of the OFC player of the year award," said Mr. Nicholas.   "He is unique in that he has played for two Oceania nations, Western Samoa and Australia at various levels."   "It was a fabulous year for Tim scoring the winner in an FA Cup semi final which has catapulted his career to the next level.  He has certainly served as a fantastic role model not just for youngsters in Australia but also in Samoa."   "Tim follows in the footsteps of some greats like Wynton Rufer and Frank Farina in receiving this award."   Mark Schwarzer and Marco Bresciano, Cahill's Australian teammates finished second and third respectively with the Solomon Islands Commins Menapi finishing fourth.   Cahill's 2004 year was full of highlights including an appearance in the English FA Cup Final for his former club Millwall against Manchester United (pictured battling with United's Paul Scholes), an international debut for Australia against South Africa and the huge honour of representing his country at the Athens Olympic Games.   His year was capped with a dream move to the English Premier League where he has enjoyed an outstanding season with Everton who are currently running fourth in the standings.   Cahill received nominations from all the national associations that voted.   OFC PLAYER OF THE YEAR WINNERS 1988 - Frank Farina (Australia) 1989 - Wynton Rufer (New Zealand) 1990 - Wynton Rufer (New Zealand) 1991 - Robbie Slater (Australia) 1992 - Wynton Rufer (New Zealand) 1993 - Robbie Slater (Australia) 1994 - Aurelio Vidmar (Australia) 1995 - Christian Karembeu (New Caledonia) 1996 - Paul Okon (Australia) 1997 - Mark Bosnich (Australia) 1998 - Christian Karembeu (New Caledonia) 1999 - Harry Kewell (Australia) 2000 - Mark Viduka (Australia) 2001 - Harry Kewell (Australia) 2002 - Brett Emerton (Australia) 2003 - Harry Kewell (Australia) 2004 - Tim Cahill (Australia)