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[caption id="attachment_47107" align="aligncenter" width="580"] Jeje Lalpekhlua wins AIFF Player of the Year award. Image Source: XtraTime[/caption] Internet Desk: Jeje Lalpekhlua the Mohun Bagan and the national team striker was awarded the All India Football Federation’s inaugural player of the year 2016. Among the presence of eminent personalities like the head coach of the Indian Team Stephen Constantine and AIFF President Praful Patel, General Secretary Kushal Das and Senior Vice President Subrata Dutta, Jeje was awarded this prestigious prize. 2016 AIFF Women's player of the year was given to Sasmita Malik. A Special Award was given to the highest goal getter of the nation, Sunil Chettri. He had scored 53 goals from 93 matches. "This is a defining year for Indian football as we prepare to host the FIFA U-17 World Cup in less than 100 days. I am confident that with the guidance and support of the Union Government through the Ministry of Sports, we believe we will be able to host the best FIFA U-17 World Cup ever," said Patel. "I congratulate all award winners for their immense contribution in growing the game in the country and wish them many more such recognitions in the future," he added. Awards list: - 2016 AIFF Best Grassroots Program of the Year: Punjab - Best Home-match Organiser of Hero I-League 2016-17: DSK Shivajians & Bengaluru FC - Hero I-League Fairplay Award 2016-17: Churchill Brothers FC Goa - 2016 AIFF Assistant Referee of the Year: Joseph Tony - 2016 AIFF Referee of the Year: Pranjal Banerjee - Long-time Contribution to Indian Football: Nike - Best Emerging Player of Hero I-League 2016-17: Jerry Lalrinzuala (DSK Shivajians) - Best Goalkeeper of Hero I-League 2016-17: Debjit Majumder (Mohun Bagan) - Jarnail Singh Best Defender of Hero I-League 2016-17: Anas Edathodika (Mohun Bagan) - Best Midfielder of Hero I-League 2016-17: Alfred Kemah Jaryan (Aizawl FC) - Best Striker of Hero I-League 2016-17: Aser Pierric Dipanda Dicka (Shillong Lajong FC) - Highest Scorer of Hero I-League 2016-17: Aser Pierric Dipanda Dicka (Shillong Lajong FC) - Syed Abdul Rahim Award for Best Coach in Hero I-League 2016-17: Khalid Jamil (Aizawl FC) - Hero of I-League 2016-17: Sunil Chhetri (Bengaluru FC). - 2016 Special Award for being the First Indian Club to play in AFC Cup Final: JSW Bengaluru FC - 2016 Special Recognition Award of the Year: Uvena Fernandes - 2016 Special Recognition Award of the Year: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu - 2016 Emerging Woman Player of the Year: Sanju - 2016 AIFF Emerging Player of the Year: Rowllin Borges - 2016 AIFF Woman Player of the Year: Sasmita Malik - 2016 AIFF Player of the Year: Jeje Lalpekhlua.