Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Sanju Yadav win AIFF Player of the year awards for 2019-20

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Sanju Yadav win AIFF Player of the year awards for 2019-20
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu(left), Sanju Yadav(right)

Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and midfielder Sanju Yadav won the All India Football Federation(AIFF) Player of the year award for the Men’s and Women’s team respectively. AIFF announced the awards for the 2019-20 season in a statement on Friday.

Anirudh Thapa was announced as the Men’s Emerging Player of the Year for the 2019-20 season. While Ratanbala Devi was the winner of the 2019-20 Women’s  Emerging Player of the Year award.

The Blue Tigers goalie was announced the winner after votes from Indian Super League(ISL) and I-League team coaches. Gurpreet was also awarded the prestigious Arjuna award in 2019.

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“There was always a desire to reach this point and this is an Award which I have always looked up to. Chhetri-Bhai (Sunil Chhetri) has won it so many times and I have always thought when I can be worthy enough to win it,” Gurpreet said.

“Huge thanks go to AIFF and everyone who has supported and helped me relentlessly to help me achieve this today. Garnering the all-important draw against Asian Champions Qatar in Doha, eleven clean sheets in the last Hero Indian Super League edition, winning the Golden Glove award could not have been possible without the team,” he added.

“A big thank you to all Hero Indian Super League and Hero I-League club coaches who have thought I’m worthy of receiving this award. I’ll try my best to live up to the expectations,” he expressed.

This is the first time since 2009 when a goalkeeper has won the Player of The Year Award. In 2009 Indian goalkeeper Subrata Paul won the award.

Midfielder Sanju Yadav wins Women’s Player of the Year award

Sanju Yadav for India National Team

Sanju won the AIFF Women’s Player of the Year award after an excellent season in midfield. She thanked the National coach Maymol Rocky for the opportunity and her guidance in the Women’s National Team.

She said, “Personally, it’s a big milestone for me. This award is proof that all the hard work that we have been doing over the last few years has indeed paid off. I would like to thank AIFF for all the exposure that we have got to grow and to improve ourselves. I’d also like to thank the seniors in our team. All of them have been an immense help to me and have helped me cope with the rigors of international football. I’d also like to thank Maymol ma’am for allowing me the time and the opportunity to grow within the team and express myself on the pitch.”

Head coach of the Indian Men’s Football team Igor Štimac congratulated the winners of the AIFF awards.

The AIFF 2019-20 awardees:

All India Football Federation

Here is the list of AIFF Awards for 2019-2020 season.

  • Men’s Footballer of the Year: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
  • Women’s Player of the Year: Sanju.
  • Men’s Emerging Footballer of the Year: Anirudh Thapa.
  • Women’s Emerging Footballer of the Year:Ratanbala Devi.
  • Award for the Best Assistant Referee: Mr. P. VAIRA–MUTHU (from Tamil Nadu).
  • Award for the Best Referee: Mr. L. Ajit Kumar Meetei (from Manipur).
  • Award for the Best Grassroots Development Programme: West Bengal (based on E-licence courses and Golden Baby Leagues).

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