Indian striker Sunil Chhetri was awarded the AIFF Player-of-the-Year award during the farewell exhibition match of Bhaichung Bhutia against German giants Bayern Munich in New Delhi.
Chhetri was handed the award by AIFF President Praful Patel in a presentation during the interval. He was handed a silver plaque and a Cheque of Rs. 2 lakh.
An elated Chhetri thanked all his teammates and coaches and the AIFF for the award.
"This is an inspiration to do better. 2011 has been good for me. I had earlier received the Arjuna Award and now the AIFF Player-of-the-Year Award. It feels nice when your achievements are recognised," he said.
In his message, Patel congratulated Chhetri and wished him more success in coming years.
"Sunil Chhetri is a deserving recipient of the award. I hope this will spur him on to bring more laurels for the National Team in the near future. I wish him success in coming years," Patel said.
For the first time the Award was decided in a democratic manner where all the coaches of the I-League playing teams voted unanimously on the four short-listed footballers.