Alexandru Epureanu named best footballer of 2012

The Moldovan Football Federation Friday announced the laureates of the football year 2012. They were selected as a result of a poll that involved about 200 specialists, members of the Federation’s Executive Committee, coaches, club presidents, presidents of the central commissions of the Federation, managers of the affiliated associations, Info-Prim Neo reports. Alexandru Epureanu was named the best player of 2012. The fullback of the Moldovan national team and of the Russian team Krylia Sovetov Samara has won this title for the fourth time, which is a record for the Moldovan football. The 26-year-old footballer was designated as the best in 2007, 2009 and 2010. The prize was received by his father as Alexandru is to play a match in Russia’s championship tomorrow. Eugen Matiughin (Dacia Chisinau) was named the best goalkeeper in Moldova’s championship, Slovenian Miral Samardzic (Sheriff Tiraspol) as the best fullback, Alexandru Pashchenko (Sheriff) as the best halfback, while Gheorghe Boghiu (Milsami Orhei) as the best striker. The prize for the best scorer went to Benjamin Balima (Sheriff), who scored 18 goals. Gabriel Tupicica was named the best referee, while Vlad Goian (FC Tiraspol) the best coach. In the women’s football, Nadejda Kolesnichenko, the captain of the U-17 team, was designated as the best player. FC Tiraspol won the Fair Play prize. Oleg Hiloti, of Lexmax Chisinau and the national team of Moldova, was named the best futsal player, Stefan Efros, of CS Gratiesti, the best beach football player, while Cristian Rotaru, of CS Ialoveni, the best football-tennis player. Special prizes for contribution to developing football were awarded to the Embassy of the UK, the sports club CSCT Buiucani, and the Department of Penitentiary Institutions of the Ministry of Justice.