Afghan footballer and goal keeper of the national football team of Afghanistan, Mansur Faqiryar was selected to receive the best athlete of the year – North Athlete of the Year Award in Germany.
Faqiryar was selected to receive the award based based on a poll conducted by Germany’s NDR Television Network, which was open until 6 January 2013, where the voters could vote for the athletes, who had the most impressive performance in 2013.
He was nominated for the award for his outstanding performance in VfB Oldenburg football division. He also shined in Afghan national football team during the South Asia Football Federation (SAFF) championship.
He topped the list of the nominees for the award and received over 15000 votes, according to the results announced by NDR Television Network.
Max Kruse of Borussia Mönchengladbach received 3808 and secured the second position, while the third position was secured by Maximilian Arnold of VfL Wolfsburg who received 1271 votes.
Hans Lindberg of Handball / HSV Hamburg received 785 votes to secure the fourth position and and Dennis Schröder received 681 votes and secured the fifth position.
The North Athlete of the Year award is given to the best athlete by NDR Television Network each year, and this was the first time a member of the Afghan national football team was nominated and selected to receive the award.