All Whites captain Chris Wood and defender Tyler Bindon have both been nominated for the ISPS Handa Halberg Awards, recognising their impressive seasons in 2024.

Chris Wood has been nominated for Sportsman of the Year after a brilliant season that saw him win Premier League Player of the Month in October, becoming the first Kiwi and Nottingham Forest player ever to do so. In November, Wood’s fine form continued as he became Forest’s all-time leading Premier League goalscorer.

Nominated alongside Wood for the award are Olympic gold medallists Hamish Kerr and Finn Butcher, triathlete Hayden Wilde, and world-leading jockey James McDonald.

Tyler Bindon has been nominated for the Sky Sport Emerging Talent Award in recognition of his rapid rise to the professional game with Reading, which saw the defender play, as of November, more minutes in 2024 than any other teenager in the world. On 2 November, 19-year-old Bindon captained his team for the first time in the historic FA Cup.

Bindon is nominated alongside World Athletics U20s triple jump gold medallist Ethan Oliver, mountain biker Erice Van Leuven, Cormac Buchanan for his exceptional performance in the FIM Junior GP World Championships in Moto3, world junior motocross champion Levi Townley, and Youth Winter Olympic Games medallist Luke Harrold.

All Whites head coach Darren Bazeley congratulated both of his players on their nominations:

“I want to congratulate Tyler and Woodsy on their very well-deserved nominations after both having brilliant years.

“Woodsy has had an outstanding 2024 and continues to set new records both in the Premier League and in an All Whites shirt.

“Tyler has enjoyed a breakout season, performing well ahead of other players of his age and becoming a crucial player for us and Reading.

“Both will play major roles for us in 2025 as we look to return to the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 2010.”

Article added: Thursday 19 December 2024