Praful Patel Biography

The All India Football Federation has announced the names of four professional footballers as nominees for the Arjuna award 2015. As the top governing body for promoting football in India, it has come up with a few leading names who have dominated the legions of Indian soccer for decades.

The list figures three men and one woman which also signify the emergence of women’s soccer in the country. Talisman national team goal keeper Subrata Paul, midfielders  Climax Lawrence, Mahesh Gawli and Oinam Bhambam Devi have been nominated for this prestigious award. 

This particular award has a few criterias associated with it and all the players need to meet them in order to be up and ready.  Some of the criteria associated with the award can be termed as leadership quality, consistent performances at the international level and overall quality as a sportsperson. 

When the awards are handed out the selection committee also emphasizes on the standard of the sports at an international level.  Previously both Deepak Mandal and Sunil Chettri who have donned India colours for a very long time have won this coveted award. Both Mandal and Chettri are considered as superstars of Indian football in both defensive and attacking positions respectively. 

 As India looks to develop women football for the future, the name of Oinam Bhambav Devi coming up in the award is quite significant. If the award eventually goes to her, she will only be the second woman footballer in India to have won it.  

As the President of the All India Football Federation, minister Praful Patel always remains focused on the development of football in the country. 

Under the Praful Patel profile, the Indian national team has also won a few coveted international football tournaments and all these Arjuna award nominees have greatly contributed to them.