The Hindu : Sport / Football : Riju is CFA Player of the Year

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Sunday, May 18, 2008
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Riju is CFA Player of the Year

Special Correspondent

— Photo S. Thanthoni

P.C. Riju.

CHENNAI: P.C. Riju, in only his second season for State Bank of India in the senior division, won the Player of the Year award at the Chennai Football Association (CFA) annual day function held on Saturday.

The diminutive striker, who hails from Kannur from where his mentor C.M. Ranjith (one time top player of SBI and thereafter its coach) also comes, had impressed one and all during the league and the subsequent Champion Club tournament with his touch of dynamism in the frontline. More than striking goals, Riju is known for his play-making skills.

The Rs. 500 award for the top- scorer went to V.P. Muthu of AG’s office. Olympian V. Baskaran was the chief guest and gave away the awards.

CFA Secretary E. Sukumaran in his report said, the Association from this year had introduced a ‘best behaved team’ prize for teams in all the four divisions and cash prizes for the winner (Rs. 10,000) and runner-up (Rs. 5000) in the senior division.

The prize winners: League: Senior Division: winner: Indian Bank; runner-up: ICF; best behaved team: Arrows FC.

F irst division: (winner, runner-up, best behaved team): Don Bosco Annai Youth / Southern Railway / Southern Railway.

Second division: Universal RC / DBYC Basin Bridge / Star Juvenile.

Third division: Saidapet Young Orients / Madras Arsenals / Lucas TVS.

Fourth division: BGP Soccer Associates / Sporting Star / Redeemers.

Referee of the Year: V. Edwin Louis.

Tie-breaker tournament: winner: SBI; runner-up: Tamil Nadu Special Police.