Syrian coach Kwid expected to win award

Abu Dhabi: The best of Asian football will be guests of honour of the UAE on Wednesday when the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) holds its annual gala night to honour the continent's cream of the crop.

The AFC has nominated ten players to be shortlisted for Best Footballer title at the Emirates Palace.

It is expected that Syrian Mohammad Kwid, the head coach of Al Karama, will win the title of Best Coach. Kwid will be in tough competition with Choe Kwang-sok, the coach of the DPR of Korea, Ma Liangxing, coach of the Chinese women's team and Mohammad Ebrahim of Al Qadisiyah from Kuwait.

Kwid led Al Karama to their first domestic league title in Syria in a decade and in their first ever participation in the Asian Champions League they reached the final. Jeonbu Motors are expected to win the title of Club of the Year because they became the first Korean Republic side that won the Asian Champions League.

Newcomers Australia are competing to win three titles this year. They are candidates in the Best Association, Best Men's team and Best Women's team.

Korea Republic, Japan, Saudi Arabia and Iran are contenders for the Best Men's team. The teams were in the finals of the 2006 World Cup in Germany.