NEROCA lead list for AIFF Awards

Kolkata: If completing narrowly at the back of champions Minerva Punjab FC within the recently concluded I-League was once a sadness, Manipur-based debutants NEROCA FC got the due reputation of their laborious paintings as they dominated the All Indian Football Federation (AIFF) Awards held in Chandigarh on Thursday. Four of the nine awards went to NEROCA, who are the 1st club from Manipur to participate within the premier competition.
Apart from trainer Gift Raikhan being adjudged the most efficient trainer for the Syed Abdul Rahim Award, the Imphal-based club’s Liberian defender Varney Kallon was once named the most efficient defender for Jarnail Singh Award. As the first-time organizers of the top-tier league, it is also laudable that NEROCA bagged the Best Organiser Award. They additionally bagged the Fairplay Award.

Elated with the awards, trainer Raikhan stated from Imphal, “I'm very happy that we as a club got all these awards. This shows how laborious we labored together off and on the field. It reflects teamwork. First, I thank my guiding gentle Jesus Christ, secondly the folk of Manipur and finally, the workforce management including the club proprietor and CEO Naoba Singh, and all the people who have labored day in and day trip to make this happen.

“Our love, passion and sincerity for the game paid off.”

For CEO Naoba, it was once almost like winning the I-League. “I'm glad that AIFF recognized our efforts to effectively prepare the matches and gave deserving other people the awards. It’s almost like winning the I-League itself,” he stated. Champions Minerva Punjab were awarded the I-League trophy within the ceremony.

The awards listing

Best Goalkeeper: Shilton Paul (Mohun Bagan). Jarnail Singh Award for Best Defender: Varney Kallon (NEROCA FC). Best Midfielder: Soosairaj Michael (Chennai City FC). Best Forward: Chencho Gyeltshen (Minerva Punjab FC). Highest Scorer: Dipanda Dicka (Mohun Bagan). Best Emerging Player (U-22): Samuel Lalmuanpuia (Shillong Lajong FC). Syed Abdul Rahim Award for Best Coach: Gift Raikhan (NEROCA FC). Best Match Organiser: NEROCA FC. Fairplay: NEROCA FC.

NEROCA sign Junior for Super Cup: France’s Jean-Michel Junior Joachim signed for NEROCA FC from fellow I-League facet Chennai City FC on Thursday. Junior is all set to join follow along with his NEROCA teammates on Friday. After the departure of Bosnia Herzegovina striker Nedo Turkovic after his I-League contract expired, NEROCA were looking for the sixth foreigner for the inaugural Super Cup.