Argentine striker Carlos Tevez (Corinthians, Brazil) leads the traditional poll on South American soccer which is organized on a yearly basis by Uruguayan daily El Pais, whose results will be released on Thursday.

Behind Tevez in the search for the title as the best South American player is Uruguayan back Diego Lugano (Sao Paulo, Brazil) who is only 10 votes behind.

Then come Brazilians Cicinho (back) and Rogerio Ceni (goalkeeper), both of whom play for the champion of the 2005 Libertadores Cup.

Argentines Fernando Gago (midfielder) and Daniel Bilos (striker), both from Boca Juniors (Argentina), keep on adding votes and are approaching the Brazilian duo.

Among the coaches, Uruguayan Anibal Mano Ruiz, in charge of the Paraguayan national team, again is at the top, followed by the Brazilian coach of the national team of Peru Paulo Autuori, two points behind.

Not far behind come coaches Carlos Alberto Parreira, the coach of Brazil, and Colombian Luis Fernando Suarez, the coach of Ecuador.

The four coaches have plenty of chances to win the selection, as there only are slight differences between them, said El Pais on Wednesday.

In the poll of the Uruguayan daily participate some 200 journalists from newspapers, magazines and news agencies from South America who send their selection of players and coaches for the 2005 season.

Source: Xinhua