Lallianzuala Chhangte and Greg Stewart of Mumbai City FC were named 'Indian Player of the Year' and...
Digital Desk: On Saturday, Sikkim hosted the Indian Football Awards 2023, which were organised by the Football Players' Association of India (FPAI) at Paljor Stadium in Gangtok.
Lallianzuala Chhangte and Greg Stewart of Mumbai City FC received the 'Indian Player of the Year' and 'Foreign Player of the Year' accolades, respectively.
Des Buckingham of Mumbai City FC was named "Coach of the Year," and Siva Shakti Narayan of Bengaluru FC was named "Youngest Player of the Year."
The Indian Football Awards is an annual honour awarded by the FPAI in various categories based on votes cast by registered footballers.
This time, almost 400 registered gamers voted. Football Development Private Limited (FDPL) and the Football Players' Association of Sikkim (FPAS) co-hosted the event.
Menla Ethenpa, president of the Sikkim Football Association, was there as the principal guest, along with former Indian team leaders Bhaichung Bhutia and Renedy Singh, president of the FPAI.
Sikkim hosted the FPAI Indian Football Awards for the second time, following its initial hosting in 2019.
Another memorable aspect of the award ceremony was an exhibition game between FPAI XI and Sikkim Stars, in which FPAI XI won 2-0. Former Indian internationals and ISL players included Arindam Bhattacharya, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Jackichand Singh, Siva Shakti Narayan, Salam Ranjan Singh, Ankit Mukherjee, Gurjinder Singh, and others in the FPAI XI.
Similarly, Sikkimese footballers from professional teams in and outside the state represented Sikkim Stars, which featured ISL stars Phurba Lachenpa and Nim Dorjee Tamang, as well as shortlisted players from the just finished Sikkim Premier League.
