HPE Proliant Transformer of the Match Award - Why is it given and on what basis

Bernard Mendy with the HPE Proliant Transformer of the Match Award

It is always important to recognise the efforts put in by players during the course of a game. Apart from helping bring to notice their talent, it helps fans also understand what aspect of the players’ game was really something that made the difference.

The awards at the end of each match in the Indian Super League have been instituted with the same objective and recognise the hard work put in by players of both sides.

The HPE Proliant Game Transformer award is one such award, which has a special focus, as it chooses to focus on one such performance from the match that changed the direction in which the match was heading.

The transformer here literally and figuratively emphasises performances that altered the fortunes of their team and helped them secure a positive result from a position where they were not getting a good outcome. Exactly how Hewlett Packard Enterprise helps Transform businesses with it’s 4 transformation pillars – TRANSFORM to a hybrid infrastructure, PROTECT your digital enterprise, ENABLE workplace productivity and EMPOWER the data-driven organization.

Another interesting feature of this award is that it does not focus on any particular player position, and instead focuses on the relevance of the performance to the result of the match. What that means is that a player, irrespective of his playing position is eligible for the award if his performance on the night was one that helped change what the outcome of the match could have been.

Another example of how this award is different from others is that it doesn’t necessarily reward the best performance from the match, it identifies the most pivotal one, the one that changed the course of the game and put their team on the path to a positive result.

This concept can be explained better through a couple of examples. In the 2nd leg of the semi-final between Atletico de Kolkata and Chennaiyin FC, Dejan Lekic was the HPE Proliant Transformer of the match.

Now, the overall result of the match saw Atletico go out on aggregate 4-2 to Chennaiyin, but the goal from Lekic gave them a 1-0 lead right before half-time and enabled the champions to have a fighting chance in the game, as there were still 45 minutes left in the match.

Although they lost the tie, Lekic’s goal helped them make a comeback in the match and that is why he was declared the HPE Proliant Transformer of the Match.

Another example that can help drive home this point about how the award is given out is that of Bernard Mendy. The Chennaiyin FC captain was given the Transformer of the Match award for the 1st leg of Chennaiyin’s semi-final against Atletico de Kolkata, a match that the team from Chennai won 3-0.

One would wonder why the Frenchman was chosen for the award, considering his team played some great attacking football and gave themselves a great chance to reach the final.

Mendy was responsible for preventing the Kolkata outfit from scoring, as he threw his body on the line, blocking goalbound attempts from the Atletico outfit. He also made some crucial interceptions and last-ditch tackles that helped preserve his team’s lead.

With FC Goa set to take on Chennaiyin FC in the final of the Indian Super League, it remains to be seen who will pick up the final HPE Proliant Transformer Award of the Match, en route to helping his team win the second season of the Indian Super League.