Indian internationals Sanju and Nongmaithem Ratanbala Devi received the 2019-20 AIFF Women’s Player of the Year and Emerging Footballer of the Year awards respectively, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced on Friday. Both players were chosen by the women’s national team head coach Maymol Rocky along with AIFF Technical Director Isac Doru.

"Personally, it's a big milestone for me. This Award is the proof that all the hard work that we have been doing over the last few years has indeed paid off. I would like to thank AIFF for all the exposure that we have got to grow and to improve ourselves. I'd also like to thank the seniors in our team. All of them have been an immense help to me and have helped me cope with the rigours of international football. I'd also like to thank Maymol ma'am for allowing me the time and the opportunity to grow within the team and express myself on the pitch,” Sanju said after receiving the award.

"This is a happy moment in my life, indeed. I've seen some of my teammates bag this award in the previous years, and it is really nice to win it myself this time round. The way our team has grown over the last couple of years is simply phenomenal. I would like to thank the AIFF, my coaches and all my teammates for helping we win this award. This will provide further motivation for us to push ahead in the future," Ratanbala said after receiving the award.

Among other awardees, Blue Tigers goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was adjudged as the 2019-20 AIFF Men’s Player of the Year following an excellent season in the Hero Indian Super League, while Anirudh Thapa was the 2019-20 Emerging Men’s Footballer of the Year. Both winners were selected based on votes from Hero Indian Super League and Hero I-League club head coaches.

2019-20 AIFF AWARDS in full

2019-20 AIFF Men’s Footballer of the Year: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu

2019-20 AIFF Women’s Player of the Year: Sanju

2019-20 AIFF Men’s Emerging Footballer of the Year: Anirudh Thapa

2019-20 AIFF Emerging Women’s Footballer of the Year: Ms. Ratanbala Devi

2019-20 AIFF Award for the Best Assistant Referee: Mr. P. Vaira-Muthu (from Tamil Nadu)

2019-20 AIFF Award for the Best Referee: Mr. L. Ajit Kumar Meetei (from Manipur)

Award for the Best Grassroots Development Programme: West Bengal (based on E-licence courses and Golden Baby Leagues)