FPAI Indian Football Awards 2013 in Mumbai - A recap!

The 5th edition of the Indian Football Awards 2013 were hosted yesterday evening by Mayanti Langer and myself, Arunava Chaudhuri, at the Bombay Gymkhana Club. This year’s awards were organised by the Football Players Association of India (FPAI) along with the Bombay Gymkhana. It was the first time that the FPAI awards were held in Mumbai after the first and third editions were held in Kolkata, in-between New Delhi and last year Goa played hosts to the awards.This year, FPAI Awards had six different categories – best Young Player, best Foreign Player, best Indian Player, best Coach, best Organised Venue and Fans Player of the Year plus the special award.

The evening kicked-off with a performance from Sandeep and Sanjeev Vyas and troupe before Mayanti and myself took over for the rest of the evening. First up on stage was FPAI president Baichung Bhutia, who spoke about the FPAI – its work and progress. Then AIFF president Praful Patel addressed the crowd and complimented the FPAI for its pioneering work and extended all possible federation support to them.

After the opening speeches, it was down to the awards with the ‘Young Player of the Year’ handed out first with Praful Patel and Bollywood star Abhishek asked to come on stage. And the winner was Pailan Arrows and Indian international, Alwyn George. The other nominees in the category had been Mohammed Rafique (Prayag United SC), Holicharan Narzary (Pailan Arrows), Bikramjit Singh (Churchill Brothers SC) and Lalrindika Ralte (East Bengal Club).

Thereafter, the Best Organised Venue of the Year award was handed out to United Sikkim FC with Praful Patel and Abhishek Bachchan doing once more the honours.

After a performance from Sikkim Rapper Bosing, it was the turn of the ‘Foreign Player of the Year’, which saw Ranty Martins Soleye (Prayag United SC, Nigeria) winning the award and a message from the striker was played. Ranty won ahead of Carlos Hernández Valverde (Prayag United SC, Costa Rica), Roberto ‘Beto’ Mendes Silva (Churchill Brothers SC), Pierre Djidjia Douhou (Pune FC, Ivory Coast) and Chidi Edeh (East Bengal Club, Nigeria).

Then came English performer Katie Holland with her sensual Egyptian belly dance before the Coach/Manager of the Year was announced. The award went to Derrick Pereira (Pune FC) ahead of Subhas Bhowmick (Churchill Brothers SC), Trevor James Morgan (East Bengal Club), Santosh Kashyup (ONGC) and Arthur Papas (Pailan Arrows).

Thereafter, it was the turn of Football Freestyler Pradeep from Chennai to show his skills. Then the FPAI Special Award was given to Churchill Alemao, received by his children Valanka Alemao (Churchill Brothers CEO) and Savio Alemao.

Then came the most emotional award of the night, the ‘Fans Player of the year’. It was won by Afghanistan captain Zohib Islam Amiri, who plays for Mumbai FC in the I-League. Zohib called Mumbai and India his home, spoke in Hindi and got the biggest round of applause on the night. Zohib won ahead of Lenny Rodrigues (Churchill Brothers, India), Lalrindika Ralte (East Bengal Club, India), Lalkamal Bhowmick (Prayag United SC, India), James Joseph Saeed Moga (Pune FC, South Sudan), Carlos Hernández Valverde (Prayag United SC, Costa Rica) and Izumi Arata (Pune FC, India)

After another performance from Katie Holland, it was down to the last but what I called most important award of the night. The one award everyone was waiting for – the ‘Indian Player of the Year’. It went to young Lenny Rodrigues (Churchill Brothers SC) ahead of Sunil Chhetri (Churchill Brothers SC), Syed Rahim Nabi (Mohun Bagan AC), Mehtab Hossain (East Bengal Club) and Clifford Miranda (Dempo SC).

Thereafter, Mayanti and myself gave a vote of thanks before Sandeep and Sanjeev Vyas and troupe rounded off the evening.