Panaji: Former India football captains Bruno Coutinho, Jo Paul Anchery and Oinam Bembem Devi are among those who have filed their nominations for the Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) election at the All India Football Federation (AIFF).According to the consolidated list of nominations for Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) general body representative, U Sharaf Ali, Coutinho, Anchery and Mushtaque Ali are in the fray for the two male posts, while Devi, Shukla Dutta, Bentla D’Coth, Kalpana Das and Sradhanjali Samantaray are the five female candidates who filed their nominations before the Thursday deadline.Coutinho, 57, was recently included in the executive committee of Goa Football Association (GFA). His nomination to AIFF general body elections was proposed by two former India captains, Maria Rebello and Anchery.Former India stars Bhaichung Bhutia and IM Vijayan are two of the most prominent names from men’s football who will vote to choose their representative in the AIFF general body, while Devi, Aditi Chauhan and Ashalata Devi are among the key former internationals on the women’s list.Elections will be held on Nov 23, with 40 players, 20 in each category, being eligible to vote. Once elected, the players will be eligible to vote in the AIFF polls to elect new office bearers on Dec 20.
