Iranian defender among 2 nominees for Asian Player Crown

Iran's defender Hadi Aghily and Al Shabab midfielder Server Djeparov are the only remaining nominees for the Asian player of the year award.Hadi Aghily is of course pleased about his chances of becoming the fifth Iranian to win the award. "I'm very happy to be present in this big ceremony and that my name is among the best Asian players", the 30-year-old told reporters in the official press conference in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday. "I'm very hopeful to win this award. In the past few years I've performed consistently for my clubs and in the national team. "I would be very proud to win this title and prolong the list of Ali Karimi, Ali Daei, Mehdi Mahdavikia and Khodadad Azizi, who have won this award before. "All of them have been great players and a pride for Asia, with Ali Daei for example not only being an Asian star, but also on world stage", Aghily, who had already been nominated last year, concluded.