The Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Ghana Breweries Limited (GBL) awarded thirty-three distinguished football personalities at the Accra International Conference Centre at the weekend.

Awards were given to the best three performers in eleven categories during the just ended soccer season, which was sponsored by GBL.

The ceremony dubbed the "Star/GFA Gala Awards Nite 2001" was in recognition of the contributions of the awardees to the development of football in Ghana. The Havelange Fair Play award, which was the first of the "nite" went to goalkeeper Sumaila Abdullai of Dawu Youngsters for upholding the dictates of fair play when he abandoned his post to give mouth to mouth resuscitation to Charles Taylor of Accra Hearts of Oak when he collapsed in his penalty box.

King Faisal and Liberty Professionals placed second and third respectively for attracting fewer cards than the other clubs in the outgoing season.

The Ohene Djan Outstanding Contributor to Development of Football Award went to Mr. Kofi Badu for his tremendous contribution as a sportswriter, a publisher and an administrator.

Mr. Sam Jonah Chief Executive of Ashanti Goldfields placed second while Nestle Ghana Limited was third.

Miss Sophia Okuley won the Outstanding Contributor to Women Football Award, while Mr. Oteng Aboagye and Mr. Ofotsu Brightmore Macaully placed second and third respectively.

In the GFA Chairman's Outstanding Partner division, the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) won first place while the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) took the second position and the Red Cross Society placed third.

For the Major George Lamptey Award for the best match officials, FIFA referee Ibrahim Iddrissu of Tamale took the first position for courageously handling many high tension matches in the 2001 Star Premier League.

Mr. Nicholas Djomoah of Koforidua and Joshua Mensah placed second and third respectively. Hearts of Oak's coach, Sir Cecil Jones Attuquayefio won the Nana Kumi Gyamfi's Best Coach Award for guiding Hearts to win the league for the fifth time on the trot. Coach J.E Sarpong of Great Olympics got the nod for the second position whilst Mr. Emmanuel Quarshie coach of Berekum Arsenals placed third.

The Nyamitei Best Club Chairman Award went to Mr. Harry Zakkour of Hearts of Oak and Alhaji Karim Grunsah of King Faisal won the second position and the third place went to Mr. Seth Yeboah, chairman of Dawu Youngsters.

Accra Hearts of Oak once again became Club of the Year while their arch rivals, Kumasi Asante Kotoko was adjudged the second best and Dawu Youngsters were the second runners up.

Kumasi Asante Kotoko's first choice goalkeeper Osei Boateng was adjudged the best goalkeeper and was awarded the Robert Mensah Best Goalkeeper Award for making twenty-eight appearances in thirty league matches and conceding a paltry fifteen goals. Abukari Kankani of Ghapoha placed second and Sammy Adjei of Hearts was third.

Ishmael Addo of Hearts won the Edward Acquah Golden Boot Award for scoring the highest number of goals - 23- in the premiership. Awudu Adama of Dawu Youngsters placed second with fourteen goals and Nana Arhin Duah placed third with eleven goals.

The Most Treasured Player Award, named after Abedi Pele went to Charles Taylor of Accra Hearts of Oak while Ishmael Addo placed second and Kotoko's midfield dynamo Stephen Oduro won third place.