Brazilian striker Cleiton Silva claimed three titles as Bengaluru FC announced the winners of their Annual Awards for the 2020-21 season on the club’s Social Media platforms, on Sunday. Silva, whose performances earned him the top-scorer accolade alongside skipper Sunil Chhetri, was also named the Players’ Player of the Season and his strike against SC East Bengal claimed the Goal of the Season award.

A summer signing, Silva hit the ground running for the Blues in a campaign that saw him register fifteen goal-involvements across competitions. The 34-year-old bagged nine goals, a tally also saw him top the club’s goalscoring charts alongside skipper Sunil Chhetri. The shared award also meant that Chhetri had finished a season as Bengaluru FC’s top-scorer for an eighth consecutive time.

More awards lay in wait for Cleiton, whose effort against SC East Bengal at the Tilak Maidan, scored with the outside of his left foot and on the volley, was named the Blues’ Goal of the Season, as voted by the club’s backroom staff and the hotel staff within the club’s bio-bubble in Goa.

In a poll conducted online and voted for by the Blues’ faithful, midfielder Suresh Wangjam was named the JSW Fans’ Player of the Season. Suresh, into his second season at the club, was previously named Fans’ Player in the Blues’ 2019-20 campaign.

Like every season, the Blues also recognized the best performers of their youth teams, as Academy graduate and midfielder Damaitphang Lyngdoh claimed the Upcoming Player of the Season award. Seventeen-year-old Lyngdoh, who was promoted to the first team following impressive performances in the BDFA Super Division League, made history by becoming the youngest-ever player to represent the club’s first team, when he featured in an AFC Cup Preliminary Stage Two clash in April.

The Blues also acknowledged the efforts of their Grassroots Program, as several youngsters were rewarded for their impressive performances through the season. Bengaluru FC Academy teams bagged titles across age groups at the KSFA Youth Premier League and the BOCA Shlok Championship, in addition to other local competitions.

Academy players Lalmingchhuanga (U15), Newton Singh (U13), Saathvik Subharkar (U12), Liam Fernandes (U10) and Devansh Chintan (U8) picked up the awards in their respective categories. In a first, the club also named the best players from its BFC Soccer Schools Elite Teams as Hemand Murthy (U10), Aryan Vora (U12) and Kevin Kurien (U14) picked up their awards.

The Awards

Top Scorer: Sunil Chhetri, Cleiton Silva (9 goals)
Players’ Player of the Season: Cleiton Silva
JSW Fans’ Player of the Season: Suresh Singh Wangjam
Goal of the Season: Cleiton Silva vs SC East Bengal, Tilak Maidan (2nd February, 2021)
Upcoming Player of the Season: Damaitphang Lyngdoh (Midfielder)

U15 Academy Player of the Season: Lalmingchhuanga (Midfielder)
U13 Academy Player of the Season: Newton Singh (Midfielder)
U12 Academy Player of the Season: Saathvik Subharkar (Defender)
U10 Academy Player of the Season: Liam Fernandes (Defender)
U8 Academy Player of the Season: Devansh Chintan (Defender)

BFC Soccer Schools U10 Elite Player of the Season: Hemand Murthy (Striker)
BFC Soccer Schools U12 Elite Player of the Season: Aryan Vora (Defender)
BFC Soccer Schools U14 Elite Player of the Season: Kevin Kurien (Midfielder)

(Bengaluru FC)