The beautiful hills of Darjeeling is all set to host the beautiful game. “All India Brigade of Gorkha Gold Cup Football Tournament,2010” or simply the “Darjeeling Gold Cup” makes a comeback after a gap of 25 years to this tourist town, much to the delight of the football fans there. From tomorrow i.e. 12th of November all roads in Darjeeling might lead to the stadium, such is passion for football there.
All the matches of the tournament will be held at the Saint Joseph’s College (School Department) ground .The tournament will be held from 12th to the 21st of November .The last edition of this tournament was held in 1985 which was won by the Kolkata Giants, East Bengal.
The first edition of the tournament was held way back in the year 1975,National Club of India,Mohun Bagan had the honour of winning the first ever Gorkha Gold Cup. The tournament ran continuously till 1985.After that it could not be held due to the Gorkhaland agitation which started from 1986.The credit for Gorkha Gold Cup goes to the Gorkha Personal serving in the British Army.
The Gorkha Gold Cup is being organized by the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Sports Association in collaboration with the Darjeeling District Administration and the Government of West Bengal providing the financial assistance, The tournament is expected to draw huge crowds as Darjeeling has been starved of any quality tournaments for a very longtime now. The Governor of West Bengal has been made the Chief Patron.
It might be put forward here Darjeeling has produced many players of repute in the past, Prominent amongst them Chandan Singh Rawat who went on and played for India and was an integral part of the National team in the hey days of Indian football in the 50’s and 60’s.With the revival of the Gorkha Gold Cup many young players have a chance once again to showcase their talents at the National level and get noticed to be picked up the big clubs of the Country.
So Darjeeling is ready to welcome back the Gorkha Gold Cup with open arms. It’s no doubt a positive development and the icing on the cake will be if the tournament with all the entertainment that it will provide to the hill folks also introduces to the country some promising footballers who can go on and become the torch bearers of Darjeeling football.
The State of Darjeeling needs a tournament of this magnitude as sport is the only alibi which can bring together people from all castes, rich and poor, different political opinions and views based on the present political situation in the state. Football definitely is a favorite amoung the people there and maybe dis could serve as an positive environment in the Queen of hills which presently is doesnt look peaceful.
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