United Sikkim beats Boys Club in the I-Day inaugural match

Gangtok, August 8. United Sikkim Football Club (USFC) defeated Boy’s Club in the inaugural match of the Independence Day Football Tournament for Chogyal Sir Tashi Namgyal Memorial Cup here at Paljor Stadium today. United Sikkim FC outplayed Boy’s Club with 8 goals to nil respectively in the first match of I-Day tournament.

By keeping its attacking game from the starting of the match, Mr. Tenzing Tsephel scored the first goal for USFC in the 12th minute but other attacks were well defended by the stoppers of the Boy’s Club and

the first half concluded with one goal to zero in favor of USFC.In the second half, Mr. Babatunde scored one more which led USFC in the 56th minute and soon completed his brace in the 63rd minute of the match and within four minutes his teammate, Mr. Hira Lall added one more goal in the 67th minute.By breaking all defending wall of Boy’s Club, Mr. Daniel scored his four goals for USFC in the 70th, 74th, 81st and 87th minutes respectively.The inaugural match had the president of Sikkim Olympic Association, Mr. PK Pradhan as the chief guest.Like wise on 9th of August UKFC (Kurseong) will take on Sikkim Police FC in the second match of the tournament tomorrow.A total of eight teams have taken part in the Independence Day Football

Tournament for Chogyal Sir Tashi Namgyal Memorial Cup. The tournament is being organized by the Sikkim Football Association under the aegis of Home Department, Government of Sikkim.The tournament has I-League teams; including Mr. Bhaichung Bhutia co owned United Sikkim Football Club along with Langshing SC, Shillong.Other participating teams are Boys’ Club, Sikkim Police Football Club, Dzongri Club, State Sports Academy, UKFC (Kurseong) and PCM (Mohan Bagan Academy) Kolkata.

CEO Fidelis world, Dubai visits to United Sikkim Trainning Session @Gangtok

GANGTOK, July 14:“We have seen numerous sports person in India but with someone like Bhaichung Bhutia who is an icon in the field of Football, we want to promote the said sports” stated the co-owner of United Sikkim Football Club (USFC) cum corporate residing in Dubai, Mr. Ananth Krishna who is here in the capital along with his Chief Executive Officer, Fidelis World, Mr. Navneet Sharma. The two were here at Paljor Stadium accompanied by the Sports and Youth Affairs Department, Secretary, Mr. Karma P Bhutia.This is our first visit to Sikkim where we found Paljor Stadium a very beautiful complex cum artificial turf laid that we ever had seen earlier, said the co-owner USFC, Mr. Krishna. Infact, we had met Bhaichung at Dubai and felt that we not only create a football team but work for the upliftment of the players. Adding more Mr. Krishna stated that, we have expert people along with experienced sportsmen who can guide us and help in establishing the club and making it one of the best and sought after clubs.

Mr. Krishna further added that they are trying to set up private equity funds and have sports academy affiliated to other places in Srilanka and India and gulf countries as well. Furthermore Mr. Krishna said that, they have players in cricket and football to be promoted but we are looking forward for improving the techniques in these formats of game amongst the players selected. We
want to make sure that there is an organization which does something for sports and in fact, I am a great fan of North Easterns and hope to do something for this region through sports, added Mr. Krishna.On the same hand, Mr. Krishna also added that, about the last performance of USFC game played at Paljor Stadium where they lost the game they were able to see their defects. Like wise Mr. Krishna informed that the only way of knowing the players well is by coming amongst the players when they play their game in thefield.

We respect our players and co operate with them in every respect as, these are the things which lead the players like Mr. Baba Tunde to come and play in Paljor Stadium. ‘My plan is to make USFC the best team in India, as India lacks the best clubs to led the nation in the game of football and avail reorganization’, said Mr. Krishna.The co-owner of USFC, Mr. Ananth Krishna and CEO Fidelis World, Mr. Navneet Sharma arrived at capital on 13th July and will be returning on 16th of July 2011 with great expectation that the club will perform its best in every game played here. Informing further Mr. Krishna added that they will be revisiting Sikkim during October this year and hoped to come back when the club is planning to hold a big event in Sikkim

United Sikkim Football Club starts its training sessions @Gangtok

Gangtok, July 12: The 35 player new squad of United Sikkim Football Club (USFC) has started its training sessions for this season here at Paljor Stadium under the chief coach Mr.Stanley Rosario and assistant coach Pranay Subba from 12th July, Tuesday.
Almost all the players of the club have reached Gangtok, while one Nigerian Baba Tundey will be reaching tomorrow and other three Manipuri players and few others are likely to join the team soon. The club has signed 3 foreign players for this season theyare Bidemi Daniel, Quantum Jacob and Baba Tundey similarly the club has also signed three national players from Manipur namely Sushil Kumar Singh, Gobind Singh and Thor Singh respectively. This time the club has signed the players of Sporting-club-de-Goa, Churchill Brothers, JCT, Arhima, JCT and Salgaonkar and a new set of goalkeepers.The club has 7 players from Sikkim including the ace footballer Bhaichung Bhutia.The local player Nim Tshering Lepcha has been chosen to lead United Sikkim Football Club as the captain for season 2011-12.

The Public Relation Officer of the club Pema L Sangdarpa informed that the meeting of the club was convened yesterday. Sangdarpa further informed that in the meeting, on the basis of the hard work and dedication towards the team and performance in the last season Nim Tshering was chosen as the captain for this new calendar year.Adding more Mr.Sangdarpa stated that the month of July is a preparatory period for the club in which the players are training mainly in physical training, speed, endurance, concentration and other trainings and skills. Sangdarpa informed that the club has decided to participate in all major tournaments in and outside the state too.The club is starting its tournament with this up coming Independence Day Football Tournament at Paljor Stadium in August, and then it has plans to travel outside to play friendly matches with renowned clubs of the country.Informing more  Sangdarpa added that the Club will also play in the  Federation Cup and Sikkim-League senior division and friendly matches in all north-eastern states for building up a good relation during the month of September and then will be participating in the Durand Cup as well. The club has also plans to organize a North Eastern Cup in Mizoram in the month of November and then it will take a short break. The PRO informed that after a short break Preparatory Period- II and III will be held during the months of December and January especially for the I-League Adding more PRO informed that during the meeting, Bhaichung thanked all the players and the coaches for joining the team and was optimistic that the players will gel as a team soon despite of the language and culture variation.It was informed that the club has now new logo of whole Snow Lion as earlier logo just as the head of the Snow Lion.

Speaking to media after the training, the chief coach,Stanley Rosario expressed his happiness over the team composition and stated that the team has the composition of experienced and young players who has already played in the renowned clubs of the nation.Rosario stated that the team has been training hard as it just has around 15 days for the I-day Football Tournament preparation. While recalling the memories of last season of I-League, the chief coach Rosario mentioned that in just three months trainings the team had played extremely well in the last season of I-League by being the topper in the qualifying round and even in the final round it just lost 1 match, other were draw.“Now things are different and the team has started from the right time with a full contingent and there is a better hope for a better performance in this season,” added Mr Rosario.Whereas Bhaichung Bhutia has mentioned that the major target for the club is to qualify for I-League and to win the Federation Cup, adding more said that the team will be also playing the tournaments in and outside the state. Bhaichung went on to add that it was good that a local lad is leading the team after seeing his performance in the last season he deserves to be the captain.Like wise Bhaichung has also pointed out that Sikkim is a new place for many of the players and it will take time for them to settle here.Informing more Bhaichung said that the team will practice every day except Sunday at Paljor Stadium by paying a monthly fee to the stadium management. Likewise, the chief coach thanked the management of the club for appointing him as the chief coach of the club.Adding more the Chief Coach Rosario mentioned that this season the club has better team than the last year and received a fantastic ground and weather for the trainings and has the first target to play in the I-Day Football Tournament at Gangtok and Federation Cup.New team captain, 23-years old Mr. Nim Tshering from Dzongu, thanked the club for giving him a big opportunity and responsibility by putting trust on him. Adding more Mr. Tshering mentioned that he will do his best for qualifying the club in the I-League and also expressed his happiness on the new composition of the young and experience players in the team and mentioned that this year the club has better team compared to the last year.

(SikkimMail)

Bhaichung hunts for new faces for United Sikkim FC

Gangtok, May 19: United Sikkim, which failed to qualify for the I-League this time, is looking for footballers from the 1st division clubs to join them and prepare for the next season in 2012.

Bhaichung Bhutia, co-owner of the club, is currently in Calcutta scouting for players and persuading footballers with the I-League teams to join the Sikkim squad, said senior manager of United Sikkim Arjun Rai.

The I-League season is about to end and players would be available after the event, an opportunity which United Sikkim did not have when it was selected for the second division I-League tournament in March.

With most footballers playing for the I-League clubs, the newly formed United Sikkim had to take the field with footballers from the second division clubs, players taken on loan from the East Bengal team, several local talents and four foreigners from lesser known teams.

Bhaichung, however, managed to bring in the national team’s vice-captain and close friend Rennedy Singh, and defender of the national team, N.S. Manjoo, to play for the club.

United Sikkim topped the qualifying round at Guwahati but came fifth in the final round in Shillong. The club played seven matches in the final round with four draws, two wins and a loss.

“Bhaichung and Rennedy Singh will remain with United Sikkim although they have received offers from big clubs to play in the I-League in the next season. Bhaichung is determined that United Sikkim will qualify in the I-League within three years and become one of the most successful clubs in the country and Asia,” said senior manager Rai.

According to him, now that the I-League is almost over, officials are talking to interested players so that they join United Sikkim.

“Apart from those whom we will retain from the previous squad we have released the other players. The signing process for new players is on to form a team of 30 and start training at the Paljor Stadium here from July second week. We will have a new stronger team for the next second division with which we want to qualify in the I-League,” said Rai.

H. Stanly Rozario

H. Stanly Rozario will continue as the club’s chief coach, he said.

Bhaichung would be arriving in Gangtok on May 26 along with Rennedy to play for United Sikkim in an exhibition match during the inauguration programme of the artificial turf at Paljor Stadium.

The next event for the club is the Independence Day football tournament to be organised by the Sikkim Football Association (SFA) at Paljor Stadium in August. Two months later the Governor’s Gold Cup, a premier football event organised by the SFA, is scheduled to be held here.

“We will be playing in the Independence Day tournament and the Governor’s Gold Cup. We would also play in major tournaments if we are invited so that our players get enough match practice before the next second division in 2012. Last time we had to do with a hurriedly assembled team and our main players Bhaichung and Rennedy were injured. This time we have the luxury of selecting and signing good players from other clubs and almost a year to train and play as a team,” Rai said.

He added that the club performed well in the I-League tournament and will do better in the next season . “We not only topped the qualifying round at Guwahati but lost only once in the final round. We drew against Lajong FC and Sporting Club de Goa, the clubs which have been promoted to I-League this season,” Rai said

Baichung to keep playing for United Sikkim FC

SHILLONG: Indian football captain Baichung Bhutia on Sunday said he will not don the East Bengal jersey but rather focus on his two-month old United Sikkim Football Club.

"I have made up my mind not to return to East Bengal. I have my own club (United Sikkim FC) now and will have to give more time to it," Bhutia, the co-owner of the club, said.

United Sikkim FC failed to qualify for the first division I-League on Saturday after they lost to Vasco Sports Club 1-2.

"Hard luck for us... it always happens like this in football. We have to stay (second division league) but we will bounce back in the next season," Bhutia said.

Apart from Bhutia, United Sikkim FC has two other national players in P. Renedy Singh and NS Manju. The club stands fifth in the second division league table with 10 points.

Baiching is very happy to give back something to his home state.

"It was a great experience for us. Nonetheless, we are only two-month old football club and I should say we have done much better," said.

"Now the team will go back home and will be back in training. We have learned a lot from our first appearance," he added.

United Sikkim FC's long-term vision is to be one of the best clubs in Asia and to produce local talent who can compete at the international level. It aims to be the springboard to bring Indian football to the consciousness of the world.

Shillong Lajong FC and Sporting Clube de Goa had qualified for the I-league division. Incidentally, both the clubs were relegated from the I-League last year.

United Sikkim's dream ends

KOLKATA: Both the teams which got relegated from the I-League last season have found their way back to the top-tier of Indian football. If it was Shillong Lajong FC who earned their berth on Friday, it was Sporting Clube de Goa's turn on Saturday. The Goa side registered a facile 2-0 win over Royal Wahingdoh in their last match of the final phase of the second division I-League in Shillong to finish second in the points table, behind Lajong with 14 points.

Samananda Singh broke the deadlock for Clube as early as the fourth minute before Eldon Maquemba doubled the scoreline in the 15th minute via a spot-kick.

"We prepared hard for to get the qualification and it has bore fruits. The entire bunch dreamt of being in the I-League. And, we performed well to achieve it," said goal-scorer Maquemba.

Meanwhile, Baichung Bhutia's club United Sikkim FC's dream of qualifying for the I-League in the very first year of entering the second division vanished in thin air as Vasco SC beat them 3-1 on Saturday. Vasco just about missed the berth for I-League as they finished third with 13 points while Sikkim ended their campaign at the fifth spot with 10 points. Vasco were up by two goals by the seventh minute itself as Joy Ferrao headed in a corner in the second minute and then Koko Sakibu scored in the seventh minute. John D Menyongar pulled one back for Sikkim in the 28th minute but Koko made it 3-1 with a goal in the dying minutes of the game.