National team captain Sunil Chhetri was named AIFF Player of the Year for the seventh time on Tuesday, while Manisha Kalyan was chosen for her first honor in the women’s AIFF category for the 2021-22 season. Chhetri and Kalyan were named winners by their national team coaches Igor Stimac and Thomas Dennerby.
“Sunil was our top scorer, scoring 5 goals, and also the player of the tournament in the SAFF Cup,” said Stimac. In addition, he led from the front scoring 4 goals in 3 games in the 3rd round of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in Calcutta. Chhetri, the third highest scorer among active international players, was first nominated for the award in 2007. He went on to win it in the 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018-19 seasons.
“Manisha has come up with exceptional performances for the national team and also for his club. He has scored goals and has also assisted regularly,” said Dennerby.Her commitment, her leadership, her discipline and her hard work have been impressive through bad and good times. She is young and still developing, but she has been our best player.Kalyan recently signed a multi-year contract with Cypriot top division winners Apollon Ladies, who have earned a spot in the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Women’s Champions League. 2022-23.
Vikram Partap Singh have been named as the 2021-22 AIFF Men’s Emerging Footballer of the Year. Women’s Emerging Footballer of the Year is awarded to Martina Thokchom. Stimac added: “He (Vikram) contributed to his club success last season with 22 appearances and 3 goals in the Hero ISL, and also the AFC Champions League. He also played a crucial role in our India’s campaign in the AFC U23 qualifiers for the Asian Cup scoring 1 goal.” “Martina is just 17 years old. She is a very strategic midfielder with an exceptional vision of the game,” Dennerby said.
AIFF Awards (2021-22):
Women’s Player of the Year: Manisha Kalyan
Men’s Player of the Year: Sunil Chhetri
Women’s Emerging Player of the Year: Martina Thokchom
Men’s Emerging Player of the Year: Vikram Partap Singh
Best Referee of the Year: Crystal John
Best Assistant Referee of the Year: Ujjal Halder.
