Jeje Lalpekhlua has been named as the ‘2016 AIFF Player of the Year.’ The announcement was made by AIFF president Praful Patel at the AIFF AGM held at the Football House in New Delhi on Wednesday, December 21.

He will be presented a prize of Rs. 250,000 (2.5 lakhs) along with with the glittering Trophy.

An elated Jeje mentioned to AIFF Media that he was “honoured” on being chosen as the ‘2016 AIFF Player of the Year.’

“This year has really gone great for me. This award is another motivation for me to reap more in the future,” he stated.

Furthermore, Sasmita Malik was conferred with the 2016 AIFF Woman Footballer of the Year. The Odisha-based footballer will be bestowed with a prize of Rs. 200,000 (2 lakhs) besides a Trophy.

“I thank the AIFF for their constant support and help. I revere the Awards lauded to me by the AIFF a lot and these are the things which matter the most to you as a Player,” she told AIFF Media.

AIFF announced two ‘2016 AIFF Award for Special Recognition’ awards for Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Uvena Fernandes. They will be bestowed with Rs. 100,000 (1 lakh) and a trophy apiece.

Gurpreet represented Stabaek IF in the UEFA Europa League, the first Indian to feature in a Europa League fixture whereas Uvena Fernandes is the first Indian Official to officiate in a FIFA World Cup final match. She officiated the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup final in Jordan.

Meanwhile, Rowllin Borges was declared as the ‘2016 AIFF Emerging Player of the Year.’

Speaking to AIFF Media, Rowllin Borges thanked AIFF for the “recognition.”

“As a Player, it’s my duty to give my best. Being conferred with such an Award means a lot to me. The recognition motivates me further,” he maintained.

Sanju, an integral part of the team who won the South Asian Games 2016, was being honoured with the ‘2016 AIFF Emerging Women Footballer of the Year’ award.

“I am in loss of words having received the news of the award. It means a lot to me and I am so happy that I could achieve this. I thank the AIFF for their constant support and exposure. And without a platform provided by the AIFF, I don’t know where I would be,” Sanju opined.

Furthermore, Punjab Football Association snapped the ‘2016 AIFF Award for Best Grassroots Programme.’

The ‘2015 AIFF Award for long-time contribution to Indian Football was awarded to Nike.

Pranjal Banerjee from IFA won ‘2016 AIFF Award for Best Referee’ along with Joseph Tony was awarded the ‘2016 AIFF Award for Best Assistant Referee’.

2016 AIFF AWARDS WINNERS AT A GLANCE

2016 AIFF Player of the Year: Jeje Lalpekhlua

2016 AIFF Woman Footballer of the Year: Sasmita Malik

2016 AIFF Emerging Player of the Year: Rowllin Borges

2016 AIFF Emerging Woman Footballer of the Year: Sanju

2016 AIFF Award for Best Grassroots Development Programme: Punjab Football Association

2016 AIFF Award for long-time contribution to Indian Football: Nike

2016 AIFF Award for Best Referee: Pranjal Banerjee

2016 AIFF Award for Best Assistant Referee: Joseph Tony

(Report & Photo courtesy: AIFF Media)