The I-League 2023-2024 season was the second season of the Indian 2nd tier league when the league champion has been promoted to the Indian Super League (ISL), the top tier of Indian football, after Punjab FC bagged the first promotion to the ISL from the I-League.
This season, the third biggest football club from the city of Kolkata, Mohammedan Sporting Club (SC) have bagged their place into the Indian Super League.
Mohammedan SC topped 2nd placed Sreenidi Deccan FC in the I-League title race. Mohammedan finished 4 points ahead of Sreenidi with 52 points while the challengers finished the season with 48 points. Mohammedan Sporting Club were handed the I-League infront of the 30000 capacity at the iconic Vivekanand Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK). And now, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) have announced the list of award winners and prize money, let's take a look.
I-League 2023-2024 Emerging Player of the Season
I-League debutant Inter Kashi's 19-years-old midfielder/winger Gyamar Nikum won the I-League 2023-2024 emerging player of the season award. The former Rajasthan United player is on loan with Inter Kashi from Mumbai City FC after struggling to get regular gametime there. In 22 appearances, Nikum bagged 4 goals and 4 assists and bagged home INR 1 Lakh cash for winning the Emerging Player of the Season.
I-League 2023-2024 Best Defender of the Season
The best defender of the I-League 2023-2024 season went to the Real Kashmir FC captain Muhammad Hammad. Real Kashmir finished the season with least goals conceded, 19 goals, and Hammad was a big reason behind that. Hammad featured in all the 24 matches for his team and was defensively solid, also assisting a goal. He helped his team keep 12 clean sheets, most in the league. Muhammad Hammad also won a cash prize of 1 Lakh INR.
I-League 2023-2024 Best Midfielder of the Season
Champion team Mohammedan Sporting Club's midfielder Mirjalol Kasimov won the Midfielder of the Season award. Kasimov was a vital cog in Mohammedan's midfield. Other than contributing in solid defensive balls, and defence splitting passes, he also bagged 4 goals for himself in 21 appearances. He also bagged 1 Lakh INR as cash reward.
I-League 2023-2024 Best Goalkeeper of the Season (Golden Glove)
Mohammedan Sporting Club's goalkeeper Padam Chhetri made a big impression of himself and won the Golden Glove. Padam joined Mohammedan after seeing his team Kenkre FC getting relegated the previous season. But he bounced back well and pulled numerous saves and despite have 4 less clean sheets than Real Kashmir's goalkeeper Muheet Shabbir, Padam's brilliance between the sticks helped Mohammedan lift the title with 8 clean sheets. He won the Best Goalkeeper of the Season/ Golden Glove award and also 1 Lakh INR.
I-League 2023-2024 Golden Boot Winner
Pre-season favorites Gokulam Kerala FC had a rather disappointing season. The former I-League champions were favourite to lift the Trophy this time around but, they were disappointing and finished 10 points behind the eventual champions Mohammedan Sporting Club. But, their talisman upfront, Alejandro Sanchez Lopez displayed a great goal scoring prowess. Sanchez scored a total of 19 goals in the campaign, 3 more than the 2nd placed Richardson Denzell to win the Golden Boot for I-League 2023-2024 season. He also won cash prize of 1 Lakh INR.
I-League 2023-2024 Best Player of the League
Other than winning the Golden Boot, Gokulam Kerala's talisman Alejandro Sanchez Lopez also won the Best Player of the Season award. He scored 19 goals in the league and helped Gokulam Kerala FC finish 3rd in the league after a rather dismal start to the season. Sanchez won 1 Lakh INR for being named the best player of the league this season.
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