NATIONAL cricket team captain Josefa Rika was awarded the Cricket Fiji Player of the Year award during the LICI Cricket Fiji Annual Awards at the Novotel Hotel in Lami last night.
The 24 year old who has been the captain of the national team since 2010 and is also a development officer of Cricket Fiji (CF) was also won the Men's Player of the Year Award.
CF chief executive officer Jon Symonds said Rika's win was not surprise as it was well earned.
"He (Rika) displayed expectional maturity in challengeing games and just like the saying goes that a captain always leads from the front, Jo always did that," Symonds said.
"His performance both on and off the field left the judges with no other choice but to give him the award," he said.
"Rika was the leading run scorer for Fiji in international competition over the in 2011 and 2012 and he was also the leading bowler in the in the Suva Cricket Association league competition."
Rika's closest opponent for the award was Josefa Dabea who was also described by Symonds as 'an outstanding player.'
Meanwhile, Suva's Ruci Kaiwai was awarded the Womens Player of the Year award in both the Association category and the governing body category.
"There were three strong finalists for the awards in the likes of Ruci (Kaiwai), Australia based Sera Kaukiono and Makelosi Mada of the Western division".
"But Ruci has been an exceptional player who has dominated the womens competition and rose head and shoulders above all other players."
Symonds said the awards night capped off a memorable 2011 and recognised the efforts of those who contributed to the Associations and the governing body.
"It was another successful awards night dinner and Cricket Fiji only gets one opportunity like this to celebrate and recognise the efforts of everyone with the whole cricketing community," he said.
2012 LICI Cricket Fiji Annual Awards Night winners:
Association:
Coach of the year: Lepani Seniyaqona (Oneata)
Volunteer of the year: Aquila Nawai (Suva)
Administrator of the year: Kolinio Tawalokusi (Moce)
Junior Player of the year: Sak Dokosobau (Suva), Saimoni Matakali (Komo), Jerry Tawake (Oneata)
Woman's player of the year: Ruci Kaiwai (Suva)
Men's Player of the Year: Josefa Dabea (Suva)
Cricket Fiji Governing Body:
Coach of the year: Vili Katina (lakeba),
Volunteer of the year: Michael Quinn (CF)
Administrator of the year: Ashney Singh (Suva)
Junior Player of the year: Metsula Beitaki (Moce)
Woman's player of the year: Ruci Kaiwai (Suva)
Men's Player of the Year: Josefa Rika (Suva)
-Umpire of the Year: Mohamed MqBool (Suva)
Also awarded ICC EAP lifetime achievement award: Luisa Rika
ICC EAP Best Womans Initiative Award in the East Asia Pacific - Cricket Fiji
Cricket Fiji Player of the year: Finalists: Josefa Rika