Three Star Club lifts the Aaha Gold Cup

Three Star Club lifted the 9^th Aaha Gold Cup trophy after defeating Manang Maryshandi Club in the Finals held at Pokhara, yesterday evening. The final score read 1-0 in favour of Three Star. The lone goal was scored by Buddha Chemzong in the 24^th minute. The goal was scored off a freekick when it hit the Manang defender and deflected favorably for Chemzong to slot home.

Manang was under pressure right from the start and after Chemzong’s goal, Three Star stared playing even better but against the run of play Manang had a chance to score but Sujal Shrestha could not capitalize.In the 38^th minute Chemzong failed to score after he received the ball in the Manang Penalty area.

Towards the end of the first half Manang has another opportunity to equalize but Shiva Shrestha failed to convert and the teams headed for the dressing room with the score reading in favor of Three Star 1-0.

Manang’s star striker, Santosh Sahukhala also failed to convert in the 60^th minute and put his team back into the match. Biraj Maharjan was of Three Star was announced man of the match.

It was a match of missed opportunity as both the teams wasted many chances to score but Three Star Club once again proved that they are the team to be beaten in Nepal. This was Three Star’s second triumph at the Aaha Gold Cup.

A record twenty thousand spectators watched the match at the Pokhara Stadium and it was also beamed live on Nepal National Televison (NTV).Aaha Gold Cup was once again a grand success and Sahara Club, the event’s organizers have shown that if you pursue something with hardwork, passion and conviction nothing can stop you from achieving the goal.  

Photograph Courtesy- Sudharshan Ranjit (Sahara Club,Pokhara)

United Sikkim- Its more than just a Club

As a football fan It always feels nice when new initiatives are taken towards the promotion of this beautiful game. When Bhaichung Bhutia launched United Sikkim Sporting Club a few years back, I still remember how excited I was. I even convinced my Producers at Zee Sports to do a story on this Club as part of our North East Football package and there I was with my team to shoot their training session at Guards Ground, Gangtok. We shot for nearly half an hour and I stood there wondering, how far this club can go? Will it be able to fill the void of Sikkim not having any clubs which can compete at the National level? But this club never really took off as per my expectations. I was bit disappointed as they limited themselves to just playing in the Sikkim state league and in the Knock out tournaments held in that region.I always felt this club had more to offer as Bhaichung Bhutia himself was the Chief Patron.

Now nearly after two years United Sikkim Sporting Club has got a new life and It was a pleasure for me to read about them and their plans in the National papers. They have applied to the All India Football Federation for a direct entry into the I-League Division II and I am hopeful that they will get the nod from the Federation. The Club has really grown over the years and now have a corporate sponsor with all the necessary support systems in place. Even the Chief Minister of Sikkim has pledged his support to Club and has assured the management that he will give them Land on the outskirts of the Capital city,Gangtok where the club office and Academy will be constructed with an International size football ground. Really exciting times for football in Sikkim. If everything falls into place within the next one year Sikkim can have their own team in the I-League and it gives me Goosebumps just thinking about the kind of euphoria it will create in Sikkim where Football is a way of life. What a sight it will be- Paljor Stadium full to the brim and United Sikkim playing against an away team.

I will commit a sin if I don’t mention another Club from Sikkim here,Denzong Boyz.A team based in Gangtok and last year they had participated in the I-League division II qualifier but unfortunately they could not qualify. They will give it a shot again this year  and I am sure they will do well.It will be wonderful to see two teams in the I-League II from Sikkim and I can foresee a derby already when these two teams will meet at the Paljor Stadium.I think Sikkim Football Association should  think about increasing Paljor Stadium’s capacity as I am sure the whole of Sikkim will come down to watch these two teams in Action.

United Sikkim Sporting Club can be another feather in Bhaichung Bhutia’s cap and I am sure over the years this club will become a force to be reckoned with, in Indian Football. I think it’s time for Sikkim to move on from the Annual All India Governor’s Gold Cup and get ready for the I-League action and support their own teams instead of cheering for some outstation teams. It seems the journey of Sikkimese football towards the greatness has started and United Sikkim will lead the way.

Photograph Courtesy- Rohen Sampang

United Kurseong FC- An Untold Story

This article was originally written for the indianfootball.com in August 2009

Long before the rest of India realized the importance of identifying the clubs with the city where they are based. Long before clubs like Mumbai FC, Pune FC and New Delhi Heroes were launched with this vision. In a small town of Kurseong in the West Bengal’s Darjeeling district way back in the year 1989 a club was launched by Late Chand Pradhan with a following name, United Kurseong Football Club. Showing in this process what visionary he was, although from a small town he thought of a concept which the rest of the country thought about, years later. Although the Club is not known at the National level, it has been a force to be reckoned with in the whole of North Bengal and Sikkim.UKFC is a household name in this part of the world. In the year 1997 the club officials claim that the team won almost all the tournaments that they entered. They have also won all the tournaments in this region over the years, which have made them one of the most successful clubs of the region.

                

With the aim to involve itself with the community service in future and in that process broaden its base, the club has adopted a secondary full form, where U stands for Unity, K-Kindness, F-Friendship and C- Co-operation.

UKFC has also produced many talented players in its two decades of existence, the notable amongst them are Crispin Chettri who went on to represent India in the under-19 Asian Youth Championship held in Sri Lanka in the year 1999-2000.Along with that he has played for various national level clubs of India. East Bengal and Pune FC have also availed his services. Currently he is with the Kolkata Premier Division side Tollygunge Agragami.Jiten Rai who played for New Delhi Heroes last season is another player who has tasted success.Jiten has played for a number of leading clubs over the years like East Bengal Mohammedan Sporting and Air India. Dinker Chettri was another well known player from the Club although he could not make it big at the national level he is an icon for the budding players in the hills.Dinker used play as a midfielder and was known for his dribbling and defence splitting through passes only god knows why he was not able to play for any big clubs of the country. Now he has retired form the game and is involved with the United Kurseong Football Club management.

The philosophy at UKFC is that even if the club fails to turn their players into successful professional footballers they should atleast succeeded in making them a good human being and help them find decent jobs. Many boys from UKFC have joined the defence forces and equal number of them is in the police. Though they could not make it big as footballers they have never regretted playing the beautiful game.

UKFC in the present times have gone down a bit but the effort to reach its former glory, or even to surpass it, is in full swing with all the ex-players getting involved. The club also has an under-19 team along with an under 16 side which is known as future hope. The club is also trying hard to find itself a sponsor to sustain itself. There is also a plan to launch its own website in the near future, which will make it the first club with a website in the region. The lack of sponsor is the major problem which the club faces. Till now the club has run on donations collected from its supporters and some entrepreneurs in the region.Chetan Tiwari and Ravi Subba Principals of two well known Public schools of Kurseong along with Raja Banerjee owner of the Makaibari Tea Estate has always helped the club in the times of need.

The UKFC management has big plans for the future. They want to become the next club from this region to qualify for the I-League after Shillong Lajong FC and the preprations have already begun. The executive committee meeting of the club is salted to be held in September which is expected to pass this ambitious plan.

Photograph Courtesy- Keshav Tamang

SIKKIM SEARCHING FOR MORE BHAICHUNGS

This article was originally written for the indianfootball.com in July 2009

Sikkim a state known for its natural beauty is fast becoming one of the most preferred destination for the tourists. But there is more to Sikkim, than just the natural beauty. The landlocked state, which shares its border with 3 countries, also has people who share a common passion for the beautiful game. After all Bhaichung Bhutia was born in this beautiful Himalayan State.

The dizzying heights of success, which Bhaichung Bhutia has achieved over the years, have made every single football lover of Sikkim proud. He has gone on to achieve something, arguably no other person from Sikkim has achieved, bringing back laurels not only to the State but also to the country. But in the year 1998 the Government of Sikkim realized that after Bhaichung Bhutia the state had failed to produce any footballer with a talent to succeed at the highest level of Indian football. So the Government launched a state wide campaign aptly named “Search for more Bhaichungs scheme” and sent coaches to all the four districts of the State to select under-14 players. This campaign was headed by Karma Yougyal the then Deputy Director (Department of Sports and Youth Affairs). After the selection process was complete a Sports Hostel was set up at Namchi (South District Headquarter) in the year 1999 where the selected players were admitted and with it the “Search for more Bhaichungs scheme” started taking shape. The Sports hostel offered the boys all the modern facilities needed for training along with good education as all the boys were enrolled in the Government School in Namchi.Late Solomon Lepcha and Hangu Norden Lepcha who is now the chief coach of Sports Academy of Sikkim were appointed as coaches to train these boys and to turn the dream into reality. Now the Head coach is Suren Chettri with Amos Subba as the assistant coach.

In 2006 another Sports Academy was started in Gangtok, the capital city of Sikkim, where the graduates of the Namchi Sports hostel were kept as the officials realized that the boys were still not matured enough and the Academy was set up to give some more years of exposure to the boys. Sports Academy of Sikkim is located at Paljor Stadium and boys below the age of 17 years are trained here. The team regularly participates in the National level tournaments across the country along with the annual home tournament, The Governors Gold Cup. The coaching team at the Academy is headed by Hangu Norden Lepcha along with Suresh Mukhia and Milan Singh. In the present times the two Sports Academies work in tandem with the Sports Hostel in Namchi acting as a feeder for Sports Academy of Sikkim.

 Now with years of effort both at Namchi Sports Hostel and The Sports Academy of  Sikkim in Gangtok the “Search for more Bhaichungs” scheme is slowly bearing fruits with the boys making it regularly to the age group national team squads along with other good clubs of the country. Many of the boys have even been taken by the defence forces in sports quotas. Nine Under-14 boys from Namchi Sports Hostel were picked up by the Indian Air Force and have been guaranteed jobs apart from playing for their team. Sanju Pradhan and Nirmal Chettri who are currently playing for the Kolkata giants East Bengal are the most decorated players who have passed out from these two Academies.

The government has plans to set up even more such Academies in the State and keep on searching for more players like Bhaichung.Hopefully the scheme will become even more successful in future.

9th Aaha Gold Cup Kicks Off

9^th Aaha Gold Cup has kicked off in the Western Nepal City of Pokhara from today. This tournament can be called the most important knock-out club competition in Nepal with prominent clubs from across the country participating along with some foreign Clubs.

Aaha Gold Cup is organized by the Sahara Club which has been promoting football in that part of the world for many years now. It also runs an Academy where a considerable number of boys from across the region train. Anil Gurung one of the best strikers to have emerged out of Nepal in the recent times was also a product of this Academy. Anil currently plays for the Indian side Shillong Lajong FC.

This year the Tournament will run till the 29^th of January with twelve teams in the fray. One team from Pakistan will also participate along with Sahara Club (United Kingdom).Winner will get richer by Nepali Rupees two lakh and the runners up will get Rs One lakh.There are also plenty of other individual prizes to be won.

Nepal Police Club has won this tournament five times and are the consecutive champions for the last three years. Manang Marsyandi Club has also lifted this trophy for two consecutive times in 2004 and 05 and other winners include Three Star Club and African United FC.

Aaha Gold Cup has come a long way since its humble beginning in the year 2002.Over the years it has grown into a very prominent tournament of Nepal with Clubs and players looking forward to participating and winning the coveted Trophy. With new sponsors joining in each year coupled with the tireless efforts of the Sahara Club officials it has also started making profits which the Sahara Club intends to use for the promotion of football in Pokhara. People of Pokhara also support this tournament whole heartedly and fill up the stadium right from the first match to the Finals.

It can be said without a doubt that this tournament will grow in stature over the coming years and has the potential to become one of the best tournaments in the South Asian region, only hindrance can be the stadium but there are already plans to upgrade it to the FIFA standards once that happens Aaha Gold Cup can attract even bigger clubs from across the region and in future become the most talked about Football Tournament in the region.

CONRATULATIONS! GOURAMANGI

As a  fan it always feels good when the players you like perform well and for the efforts they put in get recognized with awards and honors. Gouramangi Singh has been one of my favorite players and I have always admired his brand of football and it’s a nice feeling to note that AIFF has chosen him as the player of the year for 2010.

Gouramangi is now an integral part of the National team but things were not very bright for him to start with. After graduating from the prestigious Tata Football Academy he struggled to find his footing in Indian Football. He changed many clubs from Mohun Bagan to Dempo SC but still found it hard to break into the first eleven. But he never gave up and kept fighting believing in his ability until he joined Churchill Brothers in 2006 and we can all see where he has reached today. An example for all those young north-eastern footballers who want things to happen overnight and don’t have too much patience.

This award has proved that Gouramangi is the best stopper back in the country at the moment. A player who has excellent positional sense and game reading which helps him to win the balls even without making any tackles sometimes. I remember Mr Raghumani Singh (Father of Renedy Singh) showing me his house in Sekmai near Imphal and Gouramangi has really come a long way from the outskirts of Imphal to the highest level of Indian Football and he still has lot to achieve.

It was a pleasure for me to meet Gouramangi in Gangtok when he was there for the Bhaichung Bhutia Padmashree Felicitation match in 2008.He was sitting at the Substitute bench when I moved in to shake his hands. He addressed me as brother and we had a brief interaction where we talked about his coach at Churchill Brothers Mr Karim Bencherifa.Then again I met him after one the I-league games here in Kolkata.

I hope and pray he keeps on playing well and achieves even more in the near future. One of his aim is to play abroad and he has already tried once in Australia but did not succeed but I am sure he won’t give up and will keep on it. All the best “Brother” for everything in life and football. 

ALL THE BEST TEAM INDIA

Just a day left before the Asian Cup kicks off in Doha tomorrow. This is a showpiece event in Asian Football. Where the best in Asia compete with each other to win the coveted Title. But this year its extra special as our very own team India will be in action after a gap of more than two decades. The men in Blue qualified for this tournament after winning the AFC Challenge Cup last year.

Things have not gone very well for the team leading up to the Asian Cup as they lost most of the friendly games and the team manager walked out of the training camp in Dubai recently after an alleged tiff with the head coach, Bob Houghton but now it’s time to focus on the positives and keep all the negatives and the past aside and get ready for the tough challenge ahead.

All the three teams in India’s group are better ranked and way ahead of our team in all the aspects of the game. South Korea, they don’t need any introduction, Australia well they are also a wonderful team with players like Harry Kewell and Tim Cahill in their ranks. Bahrain, one of the best teams in Asia and they can be considered the dark horse of the tournament.

As a fan we think from our heart and we want our team to win the Asian Cup, but we will have to be a bit realistic about India’s chances even if we are thinking from our heart as they will be playing against two teams who have played the World Cup especially South Korea, the team which beat all odds to reach the 2002 World Cup Semi finals. Australia is also no pushover and Bahrain will be playing in conditions will be similar to their country and they are also superior to India.

But I am looking at the Asian Cup from a different perspective without worrying about the results. My thinking is that India’s Asian Cup appearance will bring about the World’s attention towards India football and our players will get a platform to showcase their talent where the scouts, agents and club officials from around the world will be present and others will be watching them on television. Vancouver Whitecaps, an MLS team will be keeping a close eye on India’s goalkeeper Subrata Paul and I am sure few more players will be under the scanner. Even if a few of our players get contracts in better leagues abroad it will be a big achievement for India Football.

So here is wishing our team all the very best and it will be a matter of great pride for all the fans when the National anthem of India will be played at a tournament of this magnitude after a gap of 27 years. I am sure our team will fight till the end and never give up come what may. Come on India!

                 “11 players a billion heartbeats some hearts beating more than others”