Gold Cup Photo AlbumGANGTOK, August 31: The 2009 edition of the Governor’s Gold Cup has got bigger, better and offers more variety with participation of clubs from African football powerhouse Nigeria, eternal favourite Nepal, ‘never-say-die’ Bhutan, football capital Goa, former football capital Kolkata and ‘you love them-you hate them’ Tata Football Academy.
Of course, five of our very own local clubs will be rubbing shoulders with the Big Boys and hopefully, slay a few giants during the 31st All India Governor’s Gold Cup Football Tournament conducted by Sikkim Football Association (SFA).
This premier tournament of the Northeastern region kicks off from September 5 here at Paljor Stadium with eight unseeded teams battling for the two spots in the main draw before the tournament opens its doors for main course.
In a bid to encourage and promote local talents, SFA has given the opportunity to Denzong Boys, Dzongri Club, United Sikkim Sporting Club, Sikkim Sports Academy and Sikkim Police to participate in the tournament. These clubs will be playing a sort of pre-qualifiers against Independence Day football tournament champions Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), untested Dehradun XI and Eastern Railways on the first few days of the tournament.
And then comes the heavy artillery.
For the first time, a full fledged Nigerian team is participating in the tournament which should be enough to ensure a House Full at the 20,000 seater Paljor Stadium. The team, Covenant Sporting Club is from Lagos, the capital of Nigeria and it can be stressed here the players are not ‘freelancers’ Nigerian players we have seen in the past two editions of the Governor’s Club.
On paper, it should be a delusion to hand over the silverware to the Nigerian club as the defending champions, Three Star from Nepal is ready to do an encore.
Leading the Indian challenge is Faria Strikers from Goa. The club is the Goa league champions and its participation will be a maiden debut of a Goan club in Gold Cup.
Not to be left behind is Tata Football Academy, the production house of Indian footballers.
Four clubs will be representing Kolkata in the tournament. They are Chirag United, BNR, Calcutta Port Trust and George Telegraph. From the far west, Mumbai United FC has also thrown its hat in the ring. The presence of Charlton Chapman coached Royal Rangers from New Delhi and strong Punjab Police football team completes an all round national participation in the tournament.
September 22, two days before the Dasai festival, will decide which challengers will lift the coveted cup ending 19 days of football festivities here at Paljor Stadium.
“SFA takes pride in roping in the above clubs to play in this tournament despite the fact that IFA Shield, Durand Cup, Bordolia Cup as well as I-League matches are being held at the same time”, said SFA general secretary Menla Ethanpa in a press meet here today. He pointed out that the Governor’s Gold Cup is on the few tournaments of the country which is being organized uninterruptedly for the last thirty years.
Altogether twenty teams are featuring in the 31st All India Governor’s Gold Cup Football Tournament, said Mr. Ethanpa.
SFA working president BK Roka, publicity secretary Shyam Pradhan, vice president OP Singhi and vice president Karma Sonam Gyatso also addressed the press meet.
Governor Balmiki Singh Prasad will be declaring the tournament officially open on September 9 while Chief Minister Pawan Chamling has been invited as the guest of honour on the occasion.
