Tenzing Tsephel An Exciting Talent

A late starter in the  game of football by his own admission. Tenzing Tsephel was one of the players who had caught my attention around two months ago when United Sikkim FC were conducting their pre 2^nd Division I-league camp in Kolkata. I had found him to be quick, though and aggressive and above all a player with an eye for the goal. A virtue which defines every good striker.

After the camp got over in Kolkata. United Sikkim FC travelled to Guwahati and participated in the 2^nd Division I-League Qualifiers, first round matches. Tsephel was also part of that squad and gave a decent performance and helped the team qualify for the final round in Shillong. Unfortunately United Sikkim FC finished in the 5^th spot and were not able to book a berth in this year’s I-League. So United’s along with Tsephel’s dream of playing at the highest level of Indian Football remained unfulfilled but as they say life has to move on and they will get this opportunity again next year.

Tenzing Tsephel was born on the 18^th of June 1984 in Gangtok. He stayed and studied in the state Capital till class one and after that his parents decided to send him for further education to Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh. Tsephel was enrolled in Tibetan Children Village School and started playing football for fun. Later on he became a regular with the school team and won many individual awards and certificates, but he is humble to add that the level of football was not that good and he just played for fun and had no intention of taking up football seriously although he used to love the game.

After finishing his school education Tsephel came down to Delhi and joined Guru Govind Singh College but this college had no football ground hence no team as well. So Tsephel tried to curve his longing to play football by trying his hand in another ball game, Basketball.

Tsephel  passed out of college and returned to his home state of Sikkim with an intention to find a decent government job and secure his future but the passion for football with which Sikkim oozes had an effect on this boy and he decided to continue playing football but at the same time he was also looking for a government job to satisfy his parents wish. Tsephel’s hunt for Government Job continues but his football career has truly started taking shape today.

First Club that Tsephel played for in Sikkim was the Zongri FC and after a season with them he was called by the Boys Club (One of the oldest and respected clubs of Sikkim),even Bhaichung Bhutia had played for this club. He played very well with them and was called for the Sikkim State team which was going to participate in the 2007 Santosh Trophy held in Faridabad. Tsephel once again proved here that football was his calling as he played well in all the group games and even scored a goal against Chandigarh.

Then in 2008 Tsephel joined United Sikkim FC, during those days it was known as United Sikkim Sporting Club and played in all the major tournaments of that region. Before he joined United Sikkim FC, Tsephel also had a stint with Delhi League side Royal Rangers, where he finished as the Club’s highest scorer.

Tsephel is enjoying his time with United Sikkim FC and wants to remain committed to the Club. He had a dream of playing alongside Bhaichung Bhutia which has been fulfilled, now he has another dream to take United Sikkim FC to the I-League. He admitted that it was wonderful to play with Bhaichung and every time he  got the ball he tried to keep it simple and passed it on to his idol whom he calls “Agya”.

Players like Tsephel represents those breed of footballers in the country who are educated at the same they have a passion for football. They want to play the game at the same there is an apprehension about the future “What if I don’t make it”? I will not get a job then what will I do? My education will go to waste.

When I last met Tsephel at Gangtok he was waiting for his turn in a Government Department for a job interview. I joked with him “Now you are a Pro Footballer do u still need that job” and his reply was “This  is important to secure my future” which points to the fact that our sportspeople are still  not freely pursuing  their sports as that pressure of What if I don’t make it is always there. The Onus is on the Government and the Corporate sector to come forward and support these Footballers or in the larger context, sportspeople. Governments can create more sports quotas and the private sector can chip in with sponsorship and other benefits sometimes without thinking about the profits and secure the future of footballers like Tsephel who can whole heartedly pursue their passion then. I am sure deep within Tsephel has a wish of playing football fulltime rather than sitting in a Government office and there are also many like me who wants him to play and entertain us and take my word he is a wonderful talent and his best is yet to come.