THE BLOG BY CPD FOOTBALL | The World of Indian football and beyond by Chris Punnakkattu Daniel

The FPAI Indian Football Awards 2017 handed out at charity match in Aizawl

Football Players Association of India (FPAI)

The Football Players Association of India (FPAI) organised the FPAI Indian Football Awards 2017 in collaboration with the Mizoram Football Association (MFA) in Aizawl on Saturday, July 1.

For the first-ever ever since its creation, the FPAI Indian Football Awards were handed out at a charity match instead of a gala function and the reason was simple, the FPAI together with the Mizoram FA donated Rs. 200,000 (2 lakhs) to the Mizoram Chief Ministers Relief Fund for the victims of the recent floods in the Northeastern state.

The charity match was played between a Mizoram XI and an FPAI XI with Mizoram going into the break with a 2-0 lead through goals from Samuel Lalmuanpuia and Jeje Lalpekhlua, but after the breather the FPAI hit back with goals from Baichung Bhutia and Seityasen Singh for the match to end in a 2-2 draw.

In the half-time break the awards were handed out in the following order

– Coach of the Year: Khalid Jamil (Aizawl FC)

– Special Award: Ranjan Choudhuri

– Young Player of the Year: Udanta Singh (Mumbai City FC/Bengaluru FC)

– Special Award: Sandip Nandy

– Indian Player of the Year: Anas Edathodika (Delhi Dynamos/Mohun Bagan AC)

– Special Award: Deepak Kumar Mondal

– Special Award: Shylo Malswamtluanga

– Foreign Player of the Year: Alfred Jayran (Aizawl FC)

– Special Award: Mizoram Football Association

– Fans Player of the Year: C.K. Vineeth (Kerala Blasters FC/Bengaluru FC)

To the cheers of over 10,000 fans present at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Aizawl, the awards were handed out creating an incredible atmosphere at the venue, while my pal and colleague Arunava Chaudhuri had the honour of co-hosting the awards at the ground.

It showed and proved the love that Mizoram and its people have for football.