He was inspirational in India's win in the AFC Challenge Cup that fetched him the most valuable player award and it came as no surprise when Bhaichung Bhutia was chosen the All India Football Federation's Player of the Year. The India and Mohun Bagan skipper, who won the award the first time in 1995, is the only player after IM Vijayan to win it twice. Vijayan was bestowed the honour thrice ever since its inception in 1992. The decision was taken in the AIFF's Annual General Meeting, in New Delhi on Tuesday. The meeting was chaired by Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, also the senior vice-president of the AIFF. Patel, who would be the acting chief in absence of the indisposed AIFF President Priyaranjan Dasmunshi - he was re-elected unanimously for another term today - hinted that secretary general Alberto Colaco will be continuing. "We won't have any major upheavals," confirmed Patel, who addressed the media. Colaco's tenure comes to an end in December but it is likely that he will get an extension. The Civil Aviation Minister said he would be looking into Air India's commercial entity criteria that has so far been in the doldrums. "It is a government institution and hence it is very difficult to turn it into a commercial entity. But things are under process. Air India and ONGC are facing difficulties in this regard. We are talking to our legal experts and though the commercial entity criteria couldn't be met this time, we are hopeful things will be sorted out soon," said Patel. As acting president, Patel said his job would be to keep things in motion besides adding that he would be talking to Bharti Airtel group and local authorities in Goa to resolve the land dispute that has prevented the AIFF's football academy from coming up there. A letter was sent to Dasmunshi's wife Dipa to attend the AGM, who, however, could not come. Earlier, the AGM unanimously chose the office bearers of the new AIFF executive committee. The office bearers President: Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi. Vice-presidents: Praful M Patel (WIFA, West), AR Khaleel (Karnataka, South), Subarata Dutta (IFA, East), Venod Sharma (Chandigarh, North), Ankur Dutta (Assam, North East). Treasurer: Hardev Jadeja (Gujarat). Executive committee members: Joaquim Alemao (Goa), KMI Mather (Kerala), CR Vissawanathan (Tamil Nadu), Tempo Bhutia (Sikkim), Inder Singh (Punjab), Sunil Bhardwaj (Haryana), MA Alam (Orissa), L Ranjith Roy (Manipur), Larsing M Sawyan (Meghalaya), AR Dev (Madhya Pradesh), Rakesh Yadav (Railways).
