Nayeemuddin conferred Mohun Bagan Ratna

The former India captain, and later the national coach, became the 16th recipient of the prestigious award, which is given to someone making seminal contribution to the success of the club.

Nayeem received a citation and Rs. 1 Lakh, which was a part of the decoration. File photo.

Mohun Bagan conferred the highest decoration of the club, the Mohun Bagan Ratna (jewel), on legendary Syed Nayeemuddin in a glittering function here on Friday. The former India captain, and later the national coach, became the 16th recipient of the prestigious award, which is given to someone making seminal contribution to the success of the club.

Nayeem received a citation and Rs. 1 Lakh, which was a part of the decoration. Mohun Bagan’s current star player, Haitian international Sony Norde, was not present to receive the Karuna Shankar Bhattacharya Memorial award for best footballer. And so was Jeje Lalpekhlua, who shared the award with Norde, for helping the team win the Federation Cup for the record 14th time.

Wriddhiman Saha, who was named the best cricketer of the year, also could not make it as he is part of the Indian team that is currently on tour in the West Indies. Present among others were West Bengal Sports and Youth Services Minister Aroop Biswas, and Laxmi Ratan Shukla, who were accorded special felicitations. Shukla, who won an assembly seat before becoming a Minister of State for sports in the newly formed government, is also a registered player with the Mohun Bagan cricket team.