Monday, February 14, 2011

United Sikkim FC in Kolkata


United Sikkim Football Club along with twenty other teams from across the country has got the green signal from the All India Football Federation to participate in the second division I-League which starts next month.

It’s a welcome news for the Football lovers in Sikkim along with the players as United Sikkim FC’s entry into the second division will definitely give a boost to the game of  football in Sikkim, a state which has always prided itself on its unconditional love for the Beautiful game.

As far as the team is concerned its camped in Kolkata right now where the Head coach, Stanley Rosario along with the patron Bhaichung Bhutia (Who is now in Sikkim for a family wedding) is holding trails along with the training sessions at the Sports Authority of India complex to recruit new players into the team. Ten boys from Sikkim who are already part of United Sikkim is also included in this camp.

I had the pleasure of watching the team’s  training sessions at the SAI Center for four days where the boys from Sikkim along with the other players on trail played practice matches. Many stars of India football dropped in to watch the training which included the Indian player of the year 2010,Gouramangi Singh along with Mehrajuddin Wadoo and Renedy Singh who is likely to sign for United Sikkim.

Although it’s pretty early to judge but United Sikkim is looking a tough side to beat. It now depends on the coach, Stanley Rosario as he has to be very meticulous in planning which players to sign as All India Football Federation has allowed only five players on Inter State Transfer and three more can be taken on loan. Hope the coach gets the right balance and gels the new signings with the players who he has already got, most of them are from Sikkim.

In the mean time the team has also registered itself as a company and henceforth in all the official documents it will be known as  “United Sikkim Football Club Private Limited Company” and its main sponsor will be Camellia Group of Companies based in Kolkata with the sports equipment giants Nike supplying the kits.

I would also like to mention about the local players from Sikkim who are with United Sikkim. They are all good and with the right guidance they can soon become great. I was particularly impressed by their striker Tenzing Tsephel who was most consistent during the training sessions which I was watched and also scored a couple of excellent goals. Later I found out that he has already represented the Tibetan National Football Team and has also toured some European countries with the team.

Within a month’s time we will all find out where will United Sikkim land up but things are looking good at the moment and I wish they get promotion to the I-League Division one in their very first year.

1 comment:

  1. USFC certainly looks a side that as a lot of potential and some point to prove as they debut in the I-league. every player has own talents which they would want to showcase n get noticed by the managers n the big clubs. Lets all hope the young guns of sikkim-the local talents play their best n fulfill their dreams of playing for big clubs n rise to the occasion.itl definitely be the new team to watch out for as it consists of youthful exzuberance that wl come out while on the big stage.. all the best to the boys..

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