Paunovic wins Monthly Top Player Award

KOTA KINABALU: Premier League foreign import striker Rodoljub Paunovic won the Monthly Top Player Award for the month of June.

The 34-year-old Serbian, who scored 11 goals, was among the main influential players that helped Sabah Tambadaus achieve their champion's title victory this season.

Four of those goals were scored in two of three matches played in June, including a hattrick against Sarawak.

“Thanks everyone. Without the help of all the team members, I would not have won this award.

“We will have more success because we believe we can do it and the unity we have as a team will make us stronger,” said Paunovic, fondly known as ‘Roki' in the team's chat group on Whatsapp.

Paunovic nabbed the award with a 2,892 votes (43.25%), edging four other candidates, Ramadhan Saifullah of JDT II (1,238 or 18.52 percent votes), Bruno Suzuki of Terengganu FC II (1,151/17.22 percent), Penang's Anselmo Arruda Da Silva (1,136/16.99 percent) and Wan Mohamad Faiz of UKM FC (269/4.02 percent).

Paunovic's award made it Sabah's second in consecutive months after skipper Rawilson Batuil won it in May.

The Monthly Top Player Award is issued by the Professional Footballers Association of Malaysia (PFAM) and Asiana.my in recognition of players who have contributed so much to their career while creating a positive competitive environment.

The awards is unique in that it is organised by players, whereby a panel of media practitioners select the best candidates, which are later voted for by supporters.

Evaluation is conducted by a committee comprising experienced sports media practitioners.

Voting is done via PFAM's official website and is open to all football fans nationwide.