Anthony excited to receive the best coach’s award named after legendary PK Banerjee
Sudeep Pakrashi: Under his guidance, Gukulam Kerala FC won the elite IWL twice. In his third year of the elite IWL title with East Bengal, Anthony Andrews is finally getting recognition officially. The 29-year-old coach, under whose guidance East Bengal women clinched the elite IWL title in 2024-25, is set to be honored with the ‘Best Coach’s award, named after the late legendary PK Banerjee, jointly with Sanjoy Sen, by East Bengal on the club’s foundation day, August 1. Anthony is excited to receive the award named after the legendary PK Banerjee. He did not have the opportunity to see the legendary coach. But he has gone through a lot of insights about Banerjee’s coaching and success, and he has reportedly found a similarity that late PK Banerjee was a master in tuning the star-studded teams to guide them to achieve laurels. East Bengal women’s team also had a star-studded team, consisting of six to seven national footballers and foreign footballers. Anthony believes the task was not quite easy to create a harmony that built up the spirit of the team. The coach wants to dedicate the award to the players, his coaching staff, the club management, and his family. He believes he could not have had the taste of success in the IWL as well as the state league, Kanyasree Cup, without the help of those individuals who supported him in his effort. Anthony believes any award should inspire the respective individual to progress with the respective activities, and the coach is now looking forward to East Bengal’s maiden participation in the AFC Challenge Cup this year.
Tutu Bose to receive ‘Mohun Bagan Ratna’ award this year; Late Mitra to receive same posthumous award next year
The Executive Committee of Mohun Bagan Athletic Club at its second meeting held at the club premises on Saturday has decided to confer ‘Mohun Bagan Ratna’ for 2025 to the club’s former president Swapan Sadhan Bose (Tutu Bose). Bose in a reply to the club has conveyed congratulations and gratitude also to the newly selected executive committee for choosing him as the recipient of ‘Mohun Bagan Ratna’. At the same time, the executive committee resolved in the same meeting that the ‘Mohun Bagan Ratna’ for the next year would be posthumously awarded to the late Anjan Mitra, the former club secretary, acknowledging his exemplary service and lifelong dedication to the club’s cause. Sujata Mitra, the wife of late Mitra has also congratulated the new executive committee for selecting Mitra as the recipient. It was Anjan Mitra who introduced the ‘Mohun Bagan Ratna’ award. However, Mohun Bagan Day, this year will be celebrated at the Netaji Indoor Stadium on 29th July.
Ranjan Chowdhury selected for the ‘lifetime’ award; But AIFF says he is one of the contenders!
The All India Football Federation (AIFF), in its awards ceremony function on 2nd May on Friday in Odisha has shortlisted former TFA coach Ranjan Chowdhury’s name for the ‘lifetime award’. Although according to an AIFF top official Chowdhury is one of the contenders for the ‘lifetime’ award! Even, the official revealed on condition of anonymity that Friday’s award function will be an overall award ceremony. It is not going to be the medal ceremony for only I-league this season or IWL this season. We will organize medal ceremony programs for those events separately. Friday’ award function will be overall.” It is also learned that the short-listing of the best striker, best midfielder, best defender, the best goalkeeper and emerging player’s names have been made from ISL, I-League, IWL and some state football associations will also be presented trophies for their performance in respective football tournaments.”
