Murray scoops top prize at Northerns awards
He started playing for the club in 2015. Besides football, he's also earned provincial and national colours in baseball.
Joshua Murray is the Benoni Northerns Football Club’s junior player of the year.
The 19-year-old received this accolade at the club’s end-of-season function on October 9, held at Benoni Northerns Sports Club in Northmead.
After missing out on the main club’s junior sportsperson accolade, this was a fitting tribute for a player who put his body on the line for his team last season.
The defender was awarded for his exploits for the BNFC’s reserve side, which finished fourth in the Eastern Local Football Association reserve league.
“He’s the youngest player in the reserve team. His hard work, commitment, and ability to listen and learn, together with his quality performances on the pitch, made him a regular starter in the reserve team, playing 22 games.
“His defensive skills did not go unnoticed by the provincial selectors who invited him to attend the ELFA U20 team trials next year,” said club chairperson Rodney Farrell.
Coaches Luke Ontong, Kenny Smith and Dale Cuthbert shared the coach of the season award for guiding their U11 and U6 teams to league championship glory.
Ontong guided his U11 side to league one glory while Smith and Cuthbert’s team were crowned the U6 league two champions.
The U7 team, under the guidance of Ryan Massyn and John Toich, won the U7 cup competition and was also runners-up in the U7 premier league.
According to Ontong, the ceremony was the first the club has held since 2019.
“The football committee was thrilled to be able to honour the junior teams, individual junior players and coaching staff for their exploits on the football field last season,” he said.
The club celebrated the main club’s 50th anniversary by honouring the football section’s founding member, Manny Ferreirinho.
Farrell thanked Ferreirinho for investing his time into making the club one of the best in the region.
“Manny has been a crucial part of the football section’s well-being and continues to serve the club and football committee. He’s a true legend,” Farrell said.
The club also unveiled the new kit for the 2023 season.
Also Read: Northerns defeat Old Bens to claim derby bragging rights
Also Read: Benoni football derby, Benoni Northerns FC vs Old Bens FC, ELFA Super League, May 21, 2016
