LIVERPOOL, England -- Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has been voted player of the year by his fellow professionals in English football, capping a season in which his scoring prowess helped erase memories of previous bans for racism and biting. The 27-year-old Uruguay international became the first South American to collect the Professional Footballers Association accolade on Sunday, having led Liverpools unexpected Premier League title challenge with 30 goals. "The Premier League is full of really great players and so it is a great honour when these players recognize your work on the pitch," Suarez said. "I always try my best for the team and it is nice to get awards but really this is for my teammates and the staff at Liverpool because without their help I wouldnt have this prize." But it was a bittersweet day for Suarez, who flew to London from Liverpool after failing to score as the leaders title charge was halted by a 2-0 loss to Chelsea. Suarez missed the first five matches of the season while completing his 10-match ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic. He was previously suspended for eight games for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra. After Liverpool fans backed Suarez as his reputation was repeatedly damaged, they could have turned against him for pushing to join Arsenal last year. But he was quickly forgiven, and even critics have started to warm to one of footballs most gifted players after a year free of misdemeanours. "He is a brilliant talent," Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said. "I think the supporters have seen him mature over the course of the last season. I think he was in a real low moment after that game (against Chelsea last year) but he has gone away and probably looked in the mirror and reflected on himself because he is not that type of guy and it probably just spilled over. "He is a really intelligent man who fits the values of this club, which is all about humility, class and he has all of that." Suarez had a marred reputation even before joining Liverpool in 2011 from Ajax where he was branded the "Cannibal of Ajax" after a biting incident. He was also vilified for being sent off in a 2010 World Cup quarterfinal for a cynical handball on the goal line against Ghana. For the last year, though, he has regained the admiration of his rivals by ensuring he is no longer a magnet for controversy. Suarez was also named alongside strike partner Daniel Sturridge and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard in the PFAs Premier League team of the year. Chelsea winger Eden Hazard was also voted into the team, as well as being named PFA young player of the year at the age of 23. ------ PFA Premier League team of the year: Petr Cech (Chelsea), Luke Shaw (Southampton), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Seamus Coleman (Everton), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Yaya Toure (Manchester City), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Southampton), Luis Suarez (Liverpool), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool). Chris Paul Jersey . 1. AMIR JOHNSON: Nice to see him back in the lineup Tuesday night in Washington DC. Played with great energy and purpose. Its amazing when a guy gets those few precious days to recover what it does to the bounce in their step and overall game/confidence. Jerome Robinson Jersey . With his father watching from the stands, Harrison homered, doubled, single and drove in a career-high five runs to lead the Pirates to a 8-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday. http://www.clippersnbateamshop.info/marc...lippers-jersey/. - The Denver Broncos kept rookie wide receiver Tavarres King from joining the Green Bay Packers by promoting him to their active roster Tuesday. DeAndre Jordan Jersey .C. - NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick headlines this years electees into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Jersey . -- The Kelowna Rockets earned their 16th straight win with a 7-2 rout of the Portland Winterhawks in Western Hockey League action Thursday.BRASILIA, Brazil -- IOC President Thomas Bach met Tuesday with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and said he feels "very confident" in the preparations for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. But Bach acknowledged once again that Brazil has no time to lose and must speed up work for the first Olympics in South America. Rios preparations have been plagued by delays, the late approval of an operating budget and concerns about water pollution in Olympic venues for sailing, canoeing, rowing, and distance swimming. IOC members have talked openly about their worries and have constantly urged Rio organizers to move faster. "We are very confident," Bach said after talks with Rousseff in Brasilia. "Weve seen great progress in the last couple of months. The organizing committee has worked extremely well. But on the other hand, the president (Rousseff) also made it clear that time is key and we dont have any day to lose." Bach is making his first visit to Brazil since being elected president of the International Olympic Committee in September. The German was upbeat after meeting with Rousseff and said the Olympics would make Rio an even better city. "Im sure that after these Olympic Games the people of Rio and the people of Brazil will say -- like for instance the people of Barcelona or the people of Munich -- there is a Rio de Janeiro before the Olympic Games, and there is an even better city -- if in Rio de Janeiros case that is possible -- there is an even better city after the Olympic Gaames.dddddddddddd" After a long delay, Rio organizers are expected in the next few days to announce an operating budget. The original bid document listed the operating budget at $2.8 billion. Bid cities usually underestimate the costs, and observers expect the Rio operating budget to grow. The operating budget is to run the games themselves. About $11 billion more in public and private money will be spent on games-related projects, costs reflected in a separate capital budget. "I can assure you this will be a very reasonable operational budget," Bach said. "The organizing committee is working very hard to respect the budget limitations and to make it really reasonable." Bach is to meet Wednesday in Rio with organizers and government officials. Disagreements over the budget have gone on for months, with national, state and local governments debating who pays what. This is also an election year with Rousseff facing voters in October. Public spending on the World Cup and Olympics has become sensitive since protests last year during the Confederations Cup. Many Brazilians ask why billions are spent on two mega sports events when the country lacks good schools and hospitals. Rios chief operating officer, Leo Gryner, said in August that $700 million in public money would be needed to balance the operating budget. Since then, chief executive officer Sidney Levy, who took over a year ago, said the $700 million would not be needed with some new income expected from local sponsorships. 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