Victorino Fernandes,The only GOAN candidate !

Ahead of the big national vote, Speedy Sporting Clube de Goa striker Victorino Fernandes is the only Goan candidate selected by the Football Players Association of India, in the category “Fans player of the year award.” The Gala event is scheduled to take place at the end of April, in Kolkata.

Over the last couple of years, Victorino has shown great potential and finally burst on the scene when he scored the winning goal in the Goa Super Cup final at the end of last season.

The 25 year olds confidence and hunger for goals continued this season in the I-League and he was rewarded for all his hard work when he made his India debut against Nepal in November. This was recently followed up with a second national cap, against Bangladesh.

At the start of 2014, Victorino’s form intensified and he was a shining light in helping Sporting Clube de Goa reach the final of the Federation Cup, where he finished as the tournament joint top goal scorer with 4 goals from five matches. A remarkable feat, when you consider the number of foreign strikers stealing the limelight in Indian football.

Victorino will be up against tough opposition in the likes of Beikhokhei Beingaichho (Bengaluru FC), Karanjit Singh (Salgaocar FC.), Arnab Mondal (East Bengal),  Balwant Singh (Churchill Brothers), Yusa Katsumi (Mohun Bagan), Boithang Haokip (Shillong Lajong ) and Douhou Pierre (Pune FC).

“It is an honour to be nominated for the Fans player of the year award, as there are a lot of talented players in this category. I would like to thank my club and team mates for their warm support,” remarked Victorino.

The FPAI Awards has been organized since 2009 to reward and recognize Indian football achievers. The other awards up for grabs include the Best Young Player of the Season, Best Indian Player of the Season, Best Foreign Player of the Season and Best Coach of the Season.

The fans player of the year award remains the most important one, as it is voted for by the public.

The last time a Goan one this prestigious title, was Salgaocar’s Francis Fernandes in 2012 when the award function was held in Goa.

To cast your vote for Victorino, simply visit http://www.thefpai.net/awards_vote.php