Sydney FC defender Rhyan Grant has been named as the fourth nominee for the 2012/13 NAB Young Footballer of the Year Award.
Sydney FC defender Rhyan Grant has been named as the fourth nominee for the 2012/13 NAB Young Footballer of the Year Award.
Grant was voted the most outstanding U21 player in the Hyundai A-League for the month of January following a series of standout performances, highlighted by his last minute winner against Melbourne Heart at Allianz Stadium.
The 2010 Championship winner has excelled in different positions under coach Frank Farina, earning recognition from the judges despite playing as a right back, left back, midfielder and central defender during January.
The 21-year-old has played 65 Hyundai A-League matches for the Sky Blues and is enjoying a breakout season in 2012/13.
“It-s an honour to be named as the January nominee for the NAB Young Footballer of the Year,” Grant said. “I-ve been happy with the way I have been playing and I-m really enjoying playing under Frank Farina.
“As a team we have started to play better and believe in ourselves and that has rubbed off on me personally.
“I-ve started to feel more comfortable in the first team this season after realising I was no longer one of the young players. I-m still only 21 but I-ve been in the first team squad for a few years now and I knew it was time to step up.”
Tim Clarke, Head of NAB Enterprise Sponsorship & Events said NAB is delighted to see the NAB Young Footballer of the Year Award continue to unearth future stars of the game.
“We congratulate Rhyan on his nomination and look forward with great anticipation to watching his development in the years to come,” Mr Clarke said.
“As a supporter of the NAB Young Footballer of the Year Award, NAB is proud to play an important role in identifying and rewarding tomorrow-s stars of football.”
Grant is the latest nominee for the annual award in 2012/13, joining Marco Rojas and Craig Goodwin in the running for the grand prize, which is a $10,000 personal investment portfolio and a NAB Private Client Manager to assist with a range of banking and financial services.
To aid the development of future football stars NAB have generously donated a $3,000 equipment pack that will go to Grant-s chosen junior football club, which is Churches United, his first junior football club in the NSW Central West town of Bathurst.
Sydney FC face Brisbane Roar in another crucial fixture this Sunday afternoon as the race for the Finals continues. The two sides are locked on 21 points each and a win would catapult the Sky Blues into the driving seat for Finals qualification. Your support at Allianz Stadium is vital and tickets can be bought from Ticketek starting at $25 for adults. See you there Sunday, 5pm kick off – don’t miss it!
