Surkumar named footballer of the year

New Delhi, Dec 20 (UNI) India right back Irungbam Surkumar Singh was named Player of the Year by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) here today.

The 23-year-old Mahindra player was chosen at the Annual General Meeting of the AIFF at the Football House here.

Surkumar, hailing from Manipur, has earned more than 25 India caps and was a key member of the national squad at the Asian Games at Doha.

Dempo midfield dynamo Climax Lawrence won the award last year.

Meanwhile, the AGM also decided to introduce Vision India Project to Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

AIFF's flagship project had already started in Manipur from last month and would be started in Delhi from March next year.

Other decisions taken by the AGM included declaring 2007 as the Year for Talent Hunt, setting up of training centres for FIFA Goal II Project at Bangalore and Gangtok (Sikkim), besides taking steps to start Women Football League/Club Tournament next year and giving financial incentives for states participating in U-13 Football Festival.

UNI PDS AY RS1921