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Ahmedabad: The Gujarat State Football Association (GSFA) has started giving awards in 11 categories to recognise the best performing district football associations and individual achievements of players. These awards have been introduced on the lines of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and were also decided in the last Annual General Meeting (AGM) of GSFA.
GSFA President, Rajya Sabha MP and RIL Director (Corporate Affairs) Parimal Nathwani said, “These GSFA awards will boost the morale of the players, referees and district football associations and will help popularise the game of football in the state.” He was addressing the 46th AGM of GSFA in Ahmedabad today.
He said, “The past one year has seen our collective efforts to realise our vision of making Gujarat a force in Indian football. I am glad that the leading corporate houses of the state including Reliance, Adani, Zydus, Torrent, etc. are contributing to the development of Gujarat football.
Under this, the award for the highest number of players was given to Ahmedabad District Football Association, the Best District Award for organising intra-district tournament was given to Rajkot and the Best Supporting District Award was given to Bharuch. While the award for the best performing active district was given to Bhavnagar District Football Association. A.R.A. Football Club and Baroda Football Academy under the aegis of GSFA were declared joint winners as the best performing football clubs.
In the individual category, a special award was given to Rangatji Thakor, a PT teacher from Mahadevpura village in Patan district. He was given this award for encouraging the girls of the village to take up football as a profession. Due to the tireless efforts of Rangatji, the daughters of the Thakor community were not only inspired to play football but also received higher education. The result was that the daughters of illiterate farm laborers of the village have today become well-educated and enthusiastic football players. Many of their daughters have also represented Gujarat in national level football tournaments.
The Football Referee of the Year award was given to Rachna Kamani in the women's category and Akash Mehta in the men's category. While the Coach of the Year award was given to Kalpana Das in the women's category and Gopal Kag in the men's category. In this way, Khushboo Saroj and Harshal Davda were awarded the Emerging Player of the Year Award. While the Best Player of the Year award was given to Shilpa Thakor in the women's category and Brijesh Yadav in the men's category. Vishal Waja was awarded the Best Beach Soccer and Futsal Referee of the Year.
GSFA Honorary General Secretary Mulraj Singh Chudasama presented the calendar of the new football year along with the annual activity report. Audited accounts and balance sheets were also presented before the board members. Executive Committee members were present at the AGM.
He further added, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt thanks to our President Parimal Nathwani, GSFA Executive Committee, DFA members, clubs, academies, coaches, match officials, sponsors, volunteers for their unwavering support and dedication. Special thanks also to the All India Football Federation for their continued guidance and support. Together, we have made significant progress and together we will continue to drive the development of football in Gujarat.”
GSFA organised various inter-district tournaments for boys and girls in different age groups. Notable among these is the Blue Clubs League (Baby Leagues), a grassroots football game for the age group of 7 to 12 years. 5,000 footballers from 23 districts have participated in it and the tournament has raised a lot of hopes for the future of football in Gujarat.
As part of another progressive activity, GSFA successfully attempted to organise the first ever Gujarat Super League (GSL). The GSL received a phenomenal response from the entrepreneurs and industrialists of the state. GSFA Futsal Club Championship 2023-24, Khelo India Women's Football League (U-13, U-15 and U-17), Gujarat Beach Soccer Team Selection Trials etc. are other events which won GSFA three awards from AIFF in different categories last year.