Shelford Dais has been named Brisbane Roar Foxtel National Youth League Player of the Year for the 2014/15 season while Devante Clut was voted by the Young Roar squad as the club’s NYL Players’ Player of the Year.
Brisbane fell just one goal short of a maiden Foxtel National Youth League Premiership, finishing second behind winners Melbourne City Youth after 18 rounds of the regular season.
In a standout season for the Young Roar, Head Coach John Sime said 18-year-old Dais, who plays in a wide right or wide left role, was a deserving winner of the award.
“Shelford is very quiet type of young man, dedicated and works hard and does all the fundamentals right,” Sime said.
“He worked very hard on his fitness this season and his technical ability in both attacking and defensive work.
“He’s certainly matured a lot in his understanding of the game and thoroughly deserves this award.”
Sime also paid tribute to Clut, who scored 11 goals in 15 Foxtel National Youth League appearances in the 2014/15 season before getting his chance in the Roar’s senior squad for the tail end of the Hyundai A-League and AFC Champions League campaigns.
“Devante had a great season, he’s away from home but he works hard and has matured as a young man and you can see the benefits of that on the field,” the Young Roar coach said.
“It was great to see his contribution to our youth team but it was also fantastic to see him get his chance in the A-League later in the year. He’s got a big future ahead of him.”
Previous winners of the award are Brandon Borrello (2013/14), Ross Archibald (2012/13), James Donachie (2011/12 and 2010/11), Matt Acton and Kenneth Dougall (2009/10) and Adam Sarota (2008/09).
The club’s Foxtel National Youth League awards were announced at a club function tonight.
