India and Mohun Bagan forward Jeje Lalpekhlua has been named the ‘Indian Player of the Year’ by the Football Players Association of India (FPAI). The 25-year old played a crucial role in India’s victory in the SAFF Cup back in January. He also was adjudged the ‘Emerging Player of the Year’ in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2015, where he found the back of the net six times and earned three assists. Jeje, who hails from Mizoram, had won the FPAI Junior Indian Footballer of the Year award in 2011. He was also named as the AIFF Emerging Player of the Year in 2013.
- Nigerian striker Ranti Martins, who played for East Bengal in the I-League and for ISL runners-up FC Goa, was named the ‘Foreign Player of the Year’, ahead of four other shortlisted footballers – Sony Norde, Darryl Duffy, Katsumi Yusa and Cornell Glen.
- Manipur-born Udanta Singh of I-League champions Bengaluru FC and the triumphant team’s coach Ashley Westwood got the highest number of votes to win the ‘Young Player of the Year’ and ‘Coach of the Year’ awards respectively.
- Debjit Majumder of Mohun Bagan won the ‘Fans Player of the Year’ award, but could not receive it personally because of his AFC Cup commitments with his Kolkata club.
