The stand-out New Zealand pair of Ryan Nelsen and Ali Riley have had their impressive efforts rewarded by being named 2010 Oceania Men's and Women's Player of the Year respectively.
The talented duo beat off the challenge of a raft of Oceania's finest players to receive the accolades and were announced as winners at the 2010 New Zealand Football Awards in Auckland on Friday night.
It is the second time each player has received this award - Nelsen claimed his first gong in 2006 while Riley has successfully defended the title she first picked up in 2009.
Tommy Smith prevailed in a very tight field for the New Zealand Young Player of the Year with his World Cup credentials and 30 games for English Championship side Ipswich Town edging two time winner Chris Wood and the goal scoring exploits of Kosta Barbarouses for Brisbane.
Olivia Chance's match-winning performance in the Women's Knockout Cup final for Claudelands and standout showings in the FIFA U-17 Women's' World Cup earned her the Young Women's Player of the Year ahead of Anna Green and Rosie White, two players already capped at senior level.
The All Whites' unbeaten run at the FIFA World Cup saw them pick up the Team of the Year award while Ricki Herbert was named coach of the year for masterminding that campaign and the Wellington Phoenix's charge into the 2010 A-League playoffs earlier in the year.
