New Delhi: Salgaocar’s Moroccan coach Karim Bencherifa won the Syed Abdul Rahim Trophy for the best coach for leading the Goan team to the I-league and the Federation Cup titles, while their Japanese striker Ryuji Seoka was adjudged the best player of the 2010-2011 season by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
Bencherifa guided the Goan outfit to their first national league title in 12 years. Salgaocar were written off at the start of the season due to their poor performance in the Federation Cup in the previous season but the 43-year-old Moroccan transformed the team into a winning outfit.
Bencherifa, who was not released by Salgaoacar to take over as the national coach, had earlier won the Federation Cup with Mohun Bagan in 2008. He is the first foreign coach to win the prestigious tournament with two clubs.
East Bengal’s Mehtab Hossaain won the award for the best midfielder, while Pune FC’s Subrata Paul was rated as the best goalkeeper.
Dempo SC’s Ranty Martins topped the scorers’ list with 29 while East Bengal’s Uga Okpara was named as the best defender. Jeje Lalpekhlua of Pailan Indian Arrows was the highest Indian goalscorer with 12 strikes. JCT, which was disbanded after the season, on the fairplay trophy. (IANS)