National football team captain Sunil Chhetri and Women’s national team striker Bala Devi, were named the 'AIFF 2014 Player of the Year' and ‘2014 AIFF Woman Footballer of the Year', respectively.
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The 30-year-old was chosen for the award for the second consecutive year on the basis of votes from coaches of I-League Clubs. He led Bengaluru FC to its maiden I-League title in the first year of its participation.
Chhetri, who had also won the award in 2013 will be presented a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh besides a trophy, an AIFF release said.
This is his third 'AIFF Player of the Year Award' in four years and fourth overall. In the process, he overtook legendary I M Vijayan's feat of winning it three times.
Chhetri had earlier won the award in 2007, 2011 and 2013 while Vijayan had won it in 1992, 1997 and 2000.
Manipuri striker Bala Devi scored 16 goals to help India retain the SAFF women's crown in Islamabad in 2014. The 24-year old Devi would be presented Rs 1 lakh, besides a trophy.
AIFF also named Sandesh Jhingan as the '2014 Emerging Footballer of the Year'.
Western India Football Association bagged the 'Award for the Best Grassroots Development Programme'. In 2014, WIFA conducted 19 grassroots festivals and five GR courses besides training 128 grassroots leaders.
The 'Award for long time contribution to Indian Football' was awarded to ONGC.
Kerala's Santosh Kumar was named '2014 AIFF Best Referee' while Manipur's Sapam Kennedy was declared '2014 AIFF Best Assistant Referee'.
