The All India Governor’s Gold Cup, one of the premier national level football tournaments in the Northeast, begins at the picturesque Palzor Stadium at Gangtok on October 27 with 17 teams from India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh taking part.
Nigerian Eagles, Bhutan XI, two clubs each from Nepal and Bangladesh, Mumbai United, Punjab Police, JCT ‘A’ team and Tibetan National Football Association have confirmed participation.
However, Sikkim’s most famous footballer Baichung Bhutia and his team Mohun Bagan will once again give the tournament a miss because of national duties and Kolkata League.
Baichung, a product of Sikkim Football Association’s (SFA) talent nurturing system, has never played at Palzor Stadium.
Launched in 1979, the tournament has been running without any interruptions for the last 27 years. No other tournament in the country can boast of such a record.
'Gold Cup' for the locals, the tournament is like a festival in Sikkim and Gangtok comes alive during the period. Government employees are allowed to go and watch the matches and it is truncated classes for the schools and colleges for the entire duration of the tournament.
This is one tournament the people of Sikkim don't miss for anything. The die-hards wait throughout the year for the Gold Cup to start.
The local talents also get an opportunity to showcase their skills as the state league champions and knockout tournament (Independence Cup) winners get a berth in the Gold Cup along with a selected SFA team.
Sanju Pradhan and Nirmal Chettri was picked from Sikkim Sports Academy by Air India after reaching the semi-finals.
Baichung was first picked up by East Bengal after being spotted from this tournament and rest, as they say, is history.
All Time Winners and Runners-Up List:
1979: GMC, Gangtok; BSF
1980: Mohammedan; Rajasthan Club, Calcutta
1981: Mafatlal, Mumbai; ITI
1982: Punjab Police; PSEB
1983: Punjab Police; Thimpu XI, Bhutan
1984: Mohun Bagan & Jamshedpur XI (joint winners)
1985: Mohun Bagan; Mohammedan
1986: Mohun Bagan; Mohammedan
1987: Sesa, Goa; Mohammedan
1988: JCF, Nepal; Eastern Command
1989: Mohun Bagan; Mohammedan
1990: RNAC, Nepal; Bank of India
1991: Mohun Bagan; Mohammedan
1992: Mohun Bagan; Mukti Joddha, Bangladesh
1993: Rising Star; VSC, Bangladesh
1994: Mohun Bagan; Army XI
1995: Punjab Police; Mohun Bagan
1996: Air-India; Mohun Bagan
1997: All-Nepal FA XI; East Bengal
1998: All-Nepal FA XI; Army XI
1999: Army XI; Kerala Police
2000: Mohun Bagan; Air-India
2001: Mohun Bagan; Arambagh Krira Chakra
2002: Border Security Force; Arambagh Krira Chakra
2003: Tata Football Academy; Air-India
2004: EverReady; All-Nepal FA XI
2005: BSF; TFA
2006: Air-India; Army XI
Nigerian Eagles, Bhutan XI, two clubs each from Nepal and Bangladesh, Mumbai United, Punjab Police, JCT ‘A’ team and Tibetan National Football Association have confirmed participation.
However, Sikkim’s most famous footballer Baichung Bhutia and his team Mohun Bagan will once again give the tournament a miss because of national duties and Kolkata League.
Baichung, a product of Sikkim Football Association’s (SFA) talent nurturing system, has never played at Palzor Stadium.
Launched in 1979, the tournament has been running without any interruptions for the last 27 years. No other tournament in the country can boast of such a record.
'Gold Cup' for the locals, the tournament is like a festival in Sikkim and Gangtok comes alive during the period. Government employees are allowed to go and watch the matches and it is truncated classes for the schools and colleges for the entire duration of the tournament.
This is one tournament the people of Sikkim don't miss for anything. The die-hards wait throughout the year for the Gold Cup to start.
The local talents also get an opportunity to showcase their skills as the state league champions and knockout tournament (Independence Cup) winners get a berth in the Gold Cup along with a selected SFA team.
Sanju Pradhan and Nirmal Chettri was picked from Sikkim Sports Academy by Air India after reaching the semi-finals.
Baichung was first picked up by East Bengal after being spotted from this tournament and rest, as they say, is history.
All Time Winners and Runners-Up List:
1979: GMC, Gangtok; BSF
1980: Mohammedan; Rajasthan Club, Calcutta
1981: Mafatlal, Mumbai; ITI
1982: Punjab Police; PSEB
1983: Punjab Police; Thimpu XI, Bhutan
1984: Mohun Bagan & Jamshedpur XI (joint winners)
1985: Mohun Bagan; Mohammedan
1986: Mohun Bagan; Mohammedan
1987: Sesa, Goa; Mohammedan
1988: JCF, Nepal; Eastern Command
1989: Mohun Bagan; Mohammedan
1990: RNAC, Nepal; Bank of India
1991: Mohun Bagan; Mohammedan
1992: Mohun Bagan; Mukti Joddha, Bangladesh
1993: Rising Star; VSC, Bangladesh
1994: Mohun Bagan; Army XI
1995: Punjab Police; Mohun Bagan
1996: Air-India; Mohun Bagan
1997: All-Nepal FA XI; East Bengal
1998: All-Nepal FA XI; Army XI
1999: Army XI; Kerala Police
2000: Mohun Bagan; Air-India
2001: Mohun Bagan; Arambagh Krira Chakra
2002: Border Security Force; Arambagh Krira Chakra
2003: Tata Football Academy; Air-India
2004: EverReady; All-Nepal FA XI
2005: BSF; TFA
2006: Air-India; Army XI
Source: Sikkim Times
No comments:
Post a Comment