The Sandpit Writers’ Awards 2018

This year, as well as our annual readers’ poll (which opened yesterday – don’t forget to vote!) we decided to add a new award voted for solely by the Sandpit’s editors & contributors – The Sandpit Writers’ Awards. Voting closed yesterday, and we’re delighted to announce the two winners…

The Sandpit Writers’ Player of the Year 2018: Nitipong Selanon

Like a Tour de France winner who grinds his way to the yellow jersey without winning a single stage (he didn’t win one single MOTM award all season), Niti impressed our writers with his incredible consistency. Where Port’s more feted stars can be worldbeaters one week and invisible the next, Niti delivers week-in, week-out and never, ever gives less than the proverbial 110%. All the players we talk to tell us he’s the hardest trainer at the club and very professional & ambitious in his attitude, and you can see that in the progress he’s made since 2016. Well done Niti!

The Sandpit Writers’ Young Player of the Year 2018: Kevin Deeromram

If there’s one player who’s been the biggest difference between Port 2018 and Port 2017, it’s the 21-year old Swede. Last season left-back was Port’s biggest problem position, with Jadet inexplicably preferring the creaking Panpanpong to the young ex-Buriram defender Yossawat; but the night before the first game of 2018, Port pulled off the transfer coup of the season, snatching Kevin from under the noses of Muangthong (many news outlets had already announced him as an MTU player), and after an impressive debut against Pattaya he’s made the LB position his own. Like Panpanpong he’s great coming forward; unlike Panpanpong he can also defend and get back into position quickly when Port lose possession. His performances may have tailed off a bit late in the season, but he still did enough to impress our writers.

Images (c) Shutterstock

Tim Russell

The founder and editor of The Sandpit, Tim has been in SE Asia since 2003 and in Bangkok since 2012, where he runs a travel tech business. Tim has followed Port FC since 2014, and is also a fan of his hometown club Coventry City, and French club AS St-Etienne. He has written for the likes of Football365, ITV.com, NME and The Quietus, and is a regular contributor to God Is In the TV. He's a keen photographer and his work can be seen on his website.