Football: Kashima players in running for Asian football gongs

KUALA LUMPUR: Kashima Antlers players, who helped their side to an inaugural Asian Champions League victory, lead the nominations to be crowned AFC player of the year, the football body said Monday.
Yuma Suzuki and Kento Misao are joined by Al Sadd's Abdelkarim Hassan in contention for the top men's award, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced.
Suzuki, 22, shone this season with an impressive all-round play and work rate, scoring twice in the AFC Champions League, and being named the tournament's most valuable player.
Kento Misao, also 22, was a stalwart midfielder who repeatedly stopped his opponents in their tracks.
The J-League side won the Asian Champions League for the first time in their history last week with a 2-0 aggregate victory after their return leg against Iranian giants Persepolis ended in a goalless draw.
But the Japanese pair face a tough challenge from Hassan, an experienced Qatari international who was a key figure in Al Sadd's campaign that took them to the AFC Champions League semi-finals this season.
Australia's Samantha Kerr is aiming to clinch the AFC women's player of the year title for the second year running.
The forward helped take her side to a second place finish at the AFC Women's Asian Cup in April.
Kerr is up against China's Wang Shuang and Saki Kumagai of Japan.
Other honours up for grabs include youth players of the year and coaches of the year in both men's and women's categories.
The awards will be announced in Oman on November 28.