Liston Colaco wins FPAI Indian player of the year award, Akash Mishra adjudged Young player of the year
There was plenty of recognition for the young Indian players in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) at the Football Players’ Association of India (FPAI) awards as ATK Mohun Bagan’s Liston Colaco was awarded the Indian player of the year award while Hyderabad FC’s Akash Mishra was adjudged to be the Young player of the year.
There was plenty of recognition for the young Indian players in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) at the Football Players’ Association of India (FPAI) awards as ATK Mohun Bagan’s Liston Colaco was awarded the Indian player of the year award while Hyderabad FC’s Akash Mishra was adjudged to be the Young player of the year.
There was more joy in the Hyderabad FC camp as Bartholomew Ogbeche was named the Foreign Player of the year while Manuel Marquez scooped the coach’s award.
🏆 Rewarded for our success!
— Hyderabad FC (@HydFCOfficial) June 16, 2022
🤩 @akashmishra_4, @2014_manel and Bart Ogbeche bag prizes at the @FPAI awards held at Kolkata recently... 💪#మనహైదరాబాద్ #HyderabadFC 💛🖤
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In the women’s section, Anju Tamang won the Indian Women’s Player of the year award. The young player award was handed to Manisha Kalyan.
Colaco becomes the second ATK Mohun Bagan player to win the big prize in a row after goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharja had received the honour for his exploits in green and maroon in Hero ISL 2020-21 season. The 23-year-old who was the top Indian goalscorer in Hero ISL 2021-22 with eight goals in the youngest recipient of the award.
PFA Indian Player of the Year ✅
— ATK Mohun Bagan FC (@atkmohunbaganfc) June 16, 2022
Thoroughly deserved, @colaco_liston 👏👑 #ATKMohunBagan #JoyMohunBagan #AmraSobujMaroon pic.twitter.com/zH2a5mAeAr
Meanwhile, Mishra who had a solid season for champions Hyderabad FC also showed his quality for India in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers and looks set to be in the squad for the finals given his performances. Mishra along with with fellow full-back Asish Rai add another dimension to Hyderabad FC’s play under Marquez.
The Spanish head coach transformed the Hyderabad-based outfit after he joined ahead of Hero ISL 2020-21 season taking the club who had finished bottom a year earlier to the title in Hero ISL 2021-22.
Ogbehce who is the all-time leading goalscorer won the golden boot in Hero ISL 2021-22 and proved to be the difference between Hyderabad FC and the rest. He scored almost everytime Hyderabad FC needed him to, making him one of the most crucial players in their squad.
The recognition the younger players in Hero ISL have received at these awards coupled with their importance to the Indian national team shows the league is moving in the right direction in terms of grooming young talent for the future of Indian football.
