Two by four: fans picking favourites

Fans can email their Fans’ Choices to rscott@soccercan.ca.



This year’s CanadaSoccer.com Fans’ Choices voting has identified eight favourites for the 2008 season: four men and four women. Those eight fan favourites have captured more than 80% of the vote less than half way through the voting period. The eight stars are Julian de Guzman, Dwayne De Rosario, Ali Gerba, Tomasz Radzinski, Kara Lang, Christine Sinclair, Melissa Tancredi and Rhian Wilkinson.



Voting for the CanadaSoccer.com Fans’ Choices continues through 9 January. Fans are simply asked to vote for their favourite players – one male athlete and one female athlete. The two winners will not only have their headshots captured in the next edition of the adidas Boot Room, but they will also help reward two lucky fans with a Canada jersey and autographed postcard.



Of course, while fans are picking their favourite players from the 2008 season, media and coaches are simultaneously picking the adidas Canadian Players of the Year based on national-team and club performances. Coaches are also selecting this year’s Canadian U-20 and U-17 Players of the Year. The six player award winners will be announced in the week of 5-9 January.



The 2007 CanadaSoccer.com Fans’ Choices were Rhian Wilkinson and Julian de Guzman. Through the first week of voting in 2008, the top-six leaders are listed below.



Men

1. Julian de Guzman 27.8%

2. Dwayne De Rosario 24.4%

3. Tomasz Radzinski 20.5%

4. Ali Gerba 11.4%

5. Rob Friend 6.3%

6. Michael Klukowski 2.3%



Women

1. Christine Sinclair 25.5%

2. Melissa Tancredi 23.4%

3. Kara Lang 19.0%

4. Rhian Wilkinson 13.4%

5. Erin McLeod 7.4%

6. Diana Matheson 4.8%