The Football Players Association of India (FPAI) has announced the list of nominees for its third Indian Football Awards to be held here on September 26.
Announcing the nominees, which were declared in five categories on selections made by some “senior players”, FPAI president and former India captain Baichung Bhutia said the winners would be decided on voting by the players of all the I-league teams. The winners will be declared on the evening of the awards.
Bhutia also announced that his team United Sikkim FC would send aid for the victims of the earthquake that rattled his native State on Sunday.
The FPAI would also try to organise a match to raise funds for the purpose. The match may be held sometime before the start of the I-League in October, it was announced.
The nominees: Best Young Player: Jeje Lalpekhlua (Pune FC), Raju Gaekwad (East Bengal), Lenny Rodrigues (Churchill Brothers). Best Foreign Player: Ryuiji Sueoka (Salgaocar SC), Roberto Mendes Silva (Churchill), Okolie Odafa (Mohun Bagan). Best Indian Player: Mahesh Gawli, Climax Lawrence (both Dempo SC), Mehtab Hussain (East Bengal). Best Coach: Armando Colaco (Dempo), Karim Bencherifa (Salgaocar), Trevor Morgan (East Bengal). Fans' Player of the Year: Luciano Sabrosa (Salgaocar), Tolgay Ozbey (East Bengal), Ranti Martins (Dempo), Mehtab Hussain (East Bengal), Yusif Yakubu (Prayag United SC).
