Samuel Charron has been named Canadian Para Soccer Player of the Year and Luis Rocha has been named Canadian Futsal Player of the Year. The two winners have been recognised for their excellence at the international level in their respective disciplines.
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\u200bThis marks the 27th edition of the Canada Soccer Player Awards, which will continue with the Canadian Youth International Players of the Year announcement on 10 December and then the 2019 Canadian Players of the Year announcement on 11 and 12 December. This past Friday, Stephanie Labbé was named the 2019 winner of the Allstate Canadian National Teams Good Hands Award.
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\u200bSamuel Charron won the 2019 Canadian Para Soccer Player of the Year after a year in which he was named Player of the Tournament at the 16-nation IFCPF World Cup Sevilla 2019 in July. The 21-year old midfielder led Canada in goalscoring for the fourth consecutive season and wore the captain’s armband for all eight of Canada’s international matches. In a 4:0 win over Thailand, he scored his fourth career hat trick.
“Samuel Charron is arguably one of the best Para Soccer players in the world and we are very honoured to have him representing Canada,” said Drew Ferguson, Canada Soccer’s Para Soccer Head Coach. “Canada finished 11th at the 2019 IFCPF World Cup and yet Sam was still named the best player of 16 nations, a huge accomplishment and a well-deserved achievement.”
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\u200bLuis Rocha won the 2019 Canadian Futsal Player of the Year award after a year in which he was Most Valuable Player and Top Scorer at the Futsal Canadian Championship. Rocha, a member of Canada Soccer’s Futsal National Team, scored 11 goals and three assists at the Futsal Canadian Championship in April. In the final match, he scored the championship-winning kick as Toronto Idolo Futsal beat Sporting Montréal FC for the second year in a row.
“Luis Rocha continues to develop as a futsal player and has shown consistent improvement since joining the Futsal National Team program,” said Kyt Selaidopoulos, Canada Soccer’s National Futsal Head Coach. “His performance at the 2019 Futsal Canadian Championship and recent attendance at Canada Soccer’s Futsal National Team camps make him a worthy recipient for the 2019 Canadian Futsal Player of the Year award.”
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\u200bCharron of Ottawa, Ontario is now a two-time winner of the Canadian Para Soccer Player of the Year award while Rocha of Toronto, Ontario is a first-time winner of the Canadian Futsal Player of the Year award.
Canada Soccer Moments, Plays and Goals of the Year
\u200bCanada Soccer’s annual Moments campaign will be announced on 20 December outlining the Top 10 Moments from 2019 across National Teams and player activity as well as the Canadian Championship.
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\u200bCanada Soccer’s Plays of the Year fan voting will take place from 23 December – 3 January with the winner announced on 7 January 2020. Fans who vote will be entered for a chance to win one of three CanadaRED Prize Packs including a Grand Prize including a signed Nike National Team jersey.
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\u200bCanada Soccer will unveil its Top 10 of the ‘10s Decade on 31 December followed by a National Teams Goal of the Year celebration on 1 January.
Follow Canada Soccer on Twitter ( @CanadaSoccerEN / @CanadaSoccerFR), on Instagram ( @CanadaSoccer) and on Facebook ( www.facebook.com/canadasoccer) to follow the year end campaigns and have your chance to win!