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‘It is an amazing feeling’

Blake, Shaw get second Concacaf Player-of-the-Year nominations

Published:Saturday | March 18, 2023 | 12:54 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
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Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake saves a goal-attempt by Suriname during a Concacaf Gold Cup Group C football match, Monday, July 12, 2021 in Orlando, Forida.
AP
Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake saves a goal-attempt by Suriname during a Concacaf Gold Cup Group C football match, Monday, July 12, 2021 in Orlando, Forida.
Jamaica’s Khadija Shaw (right) is all smiles during a national team training at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica. Looking on is teammate, Havana Solaun.
Ricardo Makyn
Jamaica’s Khadija Shaw (right) is all smiles during a national team training at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica. Looking on is teammate, Havana Solaun.
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NATIONAL GOALKEEPER and captain Andre Blake is happy that a landmark season is being punctuated with what is his second Concacaf Men’s Player-of -the-Year nomination.

The announcement was made yesterday with national and Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw also nominated for the 2022 Concacaf Women’s Player-of-the-Year award.

While Blake and Shaw’s 2022 international campaigns had different outcomes, both had strong club seasons which have stood out.

Blake made history last year by becoming the first goalkeeper to win three Major League Soccer (MLS) Goalkeeper-of-the-Year awards, earning 49 per cent of the player vote and 59.60 per cent of the media vote.

For his club, the Philadelphia Union, he marshalled a defence that conceded only 26 goals that year, as well as helped the franchise to its first MLS Cup final appearance. While Blake’s exploits in goal were not enough to lead the Reggae Boyz to the 2022 World Cup, he helped to secure a berth in this year’s Gold Cup tournament.

Blake was humbled by the honour, pleased to see that his body of work has put him in the running.

“It is an amazing feeling to see that all the hard work that you have put in over the years have not gone unnoticed. So hopefully, I can go all the way and get some votes and be the winner. I’m very happy, very excited and looking forward to seeing if I win,” Blake said.

Blake will face strong opposition that includes last year’s winner Alphonso Davies of Canada, another Canadian in Jonathan David, America’s Tyler Adams and Christian Pulisic, as well as Mexico’s Guillermo Ochoa. Blake finished third in voting in 2017.

Meanwhile, for the women, Shaw helped the Reggae Girlz to back-to-back Women’s World Cup appearances, scoring three goals in the Concacaf Women’s Championships, earning her a place in the tournament best eleven.

Shaw scored 16 goals in all competitions in her first season with Manchester City, helping them to a Continental Cup title. It is also the second nomination of Shaw’s career, finishing second from her 2018 nod.

United States Alex Morgan, the winner in 2018, has also been nominated this year.

Voting ends on April 13 with the majority being determined by coaches and captains of all the confederation member nations. A small percentage of the vote will be based on fan responses. Fan voting is now open at www.concacaf.com/concacaf-awards.

daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com

Concacaf Men’s Player-of-the-Year nominees

Tyler Adams (USA)

Alphonso Davies (Canada

Jonathan David (Canada)

Andre Blake (Jamaica))

Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico)

Christian Pulisic (USA)

Concacaf Women’s Player-of-the-Year nominees

Alicia Cervantes (Mexico)

Melchie Dumornay (Haiti)

Jessie Flemming (Canada)

Alex Morgan (USA)

Khadija Shaw (Jamaica)

Sophia Smith (USA)