Syed Nayeemuddin to be awarded Mohun Bagan Ratna

Mohun Bagan will award the prestigious Mohun Bagan Ratna (jewel) this year to former India football team captain Syed Nayeemuddin on Friday.

Besides the award, Nayeemuddin will also be given a cheque of Rs 1 lakh. The 72-year-old is the only athlete to have been conferred the Arjuna Award and Dronacharya Award by the Government of India for his contribution to football both as a player and coach.

He has also won many laurels wearing the famous green & maroon jersey. During his tenure as a Bagan coach the outfit won eight major trophies including Federation Cup and the Calcutta Football League.

Late Karuna Shankar Bhattacharya award for best footballer for the year 2015-16 will be awarded to Haitian striker Sony Norde and Jeje Lalpekhlua for their outstanding performance during the season and also for playing a pivotal role in guiding the team to a record 14th Federation Cup victory.

The best cricketer of the year award will be given to wicket-keeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha for his impeccable performance for the club and Indian team during the year. He played an integral part in the triple crown achieved by the Mohun Bagan Cricket team in the recently concluded cricket season.

The Executive Committee Members of Bagan have also decided to felicitate West Bengal sports minister Aroop Biswas, who is also the vice-president of the club.

Former Bengal cricket skipper Laxmi Ratan Shukla will be felicitated on winning the recently concluded Legislative Assembly election and becoming a minister in the current government.

A special award will also be given to former India cricketer Arun Lal.

Mountaineers Debraj Dutta and Moloy Mukherjee will also be felicitated for successfully scaling Mt Everest -- their extraordinary feat caught more attention as the two waved the Mohun Bagan Flag on the highest peak in the world.

Like every year, the club will celebrate July 28 as 'Mohun Bagan day' to commemorate the historic victory in the IFA shield final where Bagan had beaten East Yorkshire Regiment 2-1 in 1911.

--IANS

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