Bengaluru FC dominate FPAI Awards nominations

Photo Credit: Bengaluru FC

Newly-crowned I-League champions Bengaluru FC have at least one nomination in every category of the 2014 FPAI (Football Players Association of India) Awards. Coach Ashley Westwood, English defender John Johnson, young midfielder Siam Hanghal and skipper Sunil Chhetri have all been nominated in various categories.

Here are the nominations

COACH OF THE YEAR: Thangboi Singto (Shillong Lajong FC), Derrick Pereira (Salgaocar SC), Ashley Westwood (Bengaluru FC), Armando Colaco (East Bengal), Oscar Bruzon (Sporting Club de Goa)

YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Narayan Das (Dempo SC), Siam Hanghal (Bengaluru FC), Alesh Sawant (Churchill Brothers), Alwyn George (Dempo SC), Lalrindika Ralte (East Bengal)

FOREIGN PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Cornell Glen (Shillong Lajong FC), Darryl Duffy (Salgaocar SC), Yusuf Yakubu (Mumbai FC), Douhou Pierre (Pune FC), John Johnson (Bengaluru FC)

INDIAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Sunil Chhetri (Bengaluru FC), Lenny Rodrigues (Churchill Brothers SC), Gabriel Fernandes (Pune FC), Cavin Lobo (East Bengal), Balwant Singh (Churchill Brothers SC)

The nominations of the four categories above are based on the votes of I-League players but voting for the Fans’ Player of the Year Award is still open at www.thefpai.net with the closing date being April 27.

Here is the shortlist again: Karanjit Singh (Salgaocar SC), Balwant Singh (Churchill Brothers SC), Boithang Haokip (Shillong Lajong FC), Yusa Katsumi (Mohun Bagan), Beikhokhei Beingaichho (Bengaluru FC), Victorino Fernandes (Sporting Clube de Goa), Douhou Pierre (Pune FC), Arnab Mondal (East Bengal)

The awards function will be held on April 29 at the Park Hotel in Kolkata and it will be preceded by a 5-a-side match between Mohun Bagan and an FPAI five, which will be held on the same day at the Calcutta Parsee Club ground from 5.00 pm. The FPAI five will be a mix of the top players from India.

This is the sixth edition of the FPAI awards and for the third time Kolkata is the venue.