Auckland City's wonder run forces revote for the Halberg Awards

Ivan Vicelich (top) has been nominated for Sportsman of the Year at the Halbergs. Photo / AP

Auckland City FC's eye-catching run in the Fifa Club World Cup has forced a revote in the Halberg Awards.

The awards organisers have accepted a late nomination from New Zealand Football following Auckland City's stunning third place finish in Morocco on Sunday.

The national body nominated Auckland City for the Team of the Year honour, while captain Ivan Vicelich, who also picked up the individual bronze award in the player of the tournament honours, has been put forward for Sportsman of the Year.

The original list of nominees was published three weeks ago and the deadline for the first round of voting, which determines the finalists, had already passed. But as the Halberg Awards covers the entire calendar year, there is scope in the rules to include sporting achievements that occur in December after the close of nominations.

The Halberg judging panel will recast their votes in the two categories, with the finalists to be announced early next year.

Halberg Awards convener Grant McCabe said the deadline for national sporting organisations to submit their nominees closed at the end of November, but the door was open for late nominations if a team or athlete achieved top level success after the close-off date.

"We're still able to consider anything that happens in December, but it is only when something big happens that we make a late inclusion in the nominees," he said.

McCabe said the last time this occurred was in 2011 when New Zealand scored a late nomination following a historic seven-run test cricket win over Australia in Hobart.

Just where Auckland City's third-placed finish, behind only European champions Real Madrid and South American champions San Lorenzo, ranks among other New Zealand sporting achievements this year has already generated much debate.

For some sporting pundits it is an astonishing result and one of the greatest moments in New Zealand football history.

For others, it might be a nice, feel-good sporting story but in a tournament lacking the standing of other big events.
The Halberg Awards will be in Auckland on February 11.