Sunil Chettri, the captain of senior Indian football team might be again awarded the best footballer of the year for 2014-15 by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The AIFF will officially announce the award within next couple of weeks. But according to the sources close to the AIFF top brass Sunil has been ahead of his three competitors, Mohun Bagan’s Shehenaj Singh, Sandesh Jhingan and Eugeneson Lyngdoh of Bengaluru FC in the priority list for this award.
The AIFF will officially announce the award within next couple of weeks. But according to the sources close to the AIFF top brass Sunil has been ahead of his three competitors, Mohun Bagan’s Shehenaj Singh, Sandesh Jhingan and Eugeneson Lyngdoh of Bengaluru FC in the priority list for this award.
It has been learnt that the key factor behind the AIFF bosses’ decision to keep Sunil’s name on the top of award list is that national coach Stephen Constantine has rated Sunil highly. The Bengaluru FC striker however, did not have the best last season, scoring only two goals in the I-League. But at the same time he had an impressive show with the national team in India’s World Cup qualifiers. And that is the reason Constantine has reportedly given maximum numbers to his national captain. The rating list along with Stephen’s remarks has already been sent to all the coaches of I-league clubs.
And for the first time, the AIFF bosses have decided that the player who will be given best player’s award also needs good marks on his behavior on and off the field. Constantine has given high marks to Sunil also on this point. If Sunil wins the award finally he will capture it for consecutive five times.