Fyfe named Player of the OFC Tournament

Sydney FC defender Iain Fyfe was today named as the Hyundai OFC World Club Championship Player of the Tournament as the team helped launch the club’s Membership Drive along with the World Club Championship trophy at Circular Quay.

Sydney FC returned from the World Club Championships last weekend after defeating the best teams in the Oceania Football Confederation.

Fyfe played all five matches in Tahiti and was handed the keys to a new car by Sydney City Hyundai Financial Controller Peter Fattore in front of a strong lunch time crowd on the Sydney Harbour foreshore.

The strapping defender, who joined Sydney FC after returning to Australia from Scotland, will have use of the Hyundai Tucson for the next six months.

Fyfe was rock solid in the centre of defence for the team in Tahiti and was named Player of the Tournament by the coaching staff Pierre Littbarski, Ian Crook and Jim Fraser.

“To win the tournament was the main aim of the trip to Tahiti but to be named Player of the Tournament and receive a car is a big bonus,” Fyfe said before telling the crowd that the Hyundai Tucson was a timely prize as he doesn’t have a car. “It’s always nice to receive recognition as an individual.”

Fyfe’s recognition was well deserved as he was a pillar of strength at the back for Sydney FC as it won five matches to book a place at the FIFA World Club Championships in Japan this December alongside the likes of Liverpool, winners of the European Champions League.

These awards are traditionally taken by strikers or attacking players, but Coach Pierre Littbarski said Fyfe was a worthy winner of the car.

“Fyfey (Fyfe) played every match for us and he was brilliant at the back,” Littbarski said. “It was not an easy tournament with all of the teams having some very good attacking players but Fyfey was strong in every game. It can be difficult to remain focused when the ball spends a lot of time at the other end but he was good every match.”

Fyfe’s award coincided with the public launch of Sydney FC’s membership program, which is aimed at football fans of every age.

Sydney FC has arrived on the Sydney sporting landscape under a blaze of publicity but tomorrow’s start of pre-season training for the beginning of the A-League coincides with the effort to reach the mainstream Sydney community.

“We have done very well as a club up until now, especially on the field,” said Chief Executive Andy Harper. “We will be spending the next nine weeks before the first match against Melbourne Victory on August 28 getting out to schools and clubs to start cultivating a fan base. Sydney FC is a team for the people of Sydney and today is all about starting the push to reach out and touch those people.

“Our aim is to give the people an exciting football team they feel part of and we know we have to get out to there and entice supporters into Aussie Stadium for matches.”

From the Junior Membership Scheme, priced at just $20, right through to the $2000 Foundation Membership Package, Sydney FC has put together a wide range of membership options to satisfy the needs of everyone from junior football players to the corporate high-flyers.

Full details, including a Membership brochure and details on all seven membership packages, as well as a purchase form, can be access through the club website at www.sydneyfc.com

Pre-sales of the Membership Packages before today’s launch has seen more than 500 people already pledge their support to the club.