#3 Jeje Lalpekhlua
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Jeje Lalpekhlua was the AIFF footballer of the year, but he would have liked to be a bigger presence in the matches that mattered this year. He was underwhelming when Tampines Rovers beat Mohun Bagan 2-1 in the Round of 16 of the AFC Cup. But that does not take away from an otherwise stunning year for Jeje.
He started the year with a bang as he scored once and assisted Sunil Chhetri’s winner in the SAFF Cup final against Afghanistan. And he carried that form into the I-League
He scored in the early season I-League game against Bengaluru FC at the Kanteerava Stadium, as he helped Bagan to a 2-0 victory. That was one of the four goals that he scored as Bagan ultimately failed in their quest to win the title.
Jeje went on to the ISL with Chennaiyin FC and did what he did for them in the first two seasons of the ISL. He scored three goals and assisted two. But he was injured as the tournament reached the business end and Chennaiyin missed his presence.
For the national team, he scored five goals in the six games that he played this year.
The highlight of his goals this year was his delicate chip for Chennaiyin against FC Pune City that left Edel Bete with absolutely no chance.
