All clearances received for Dubai & Malaysia clubs: SFA
GANGTOK,: Kolkata Premier Division side Kalighat Milan Sangha FC will take on local champions Sikkim Police in the opening day match of the 40th Governor’s Gold Cup football tournament here at Paljor Stadium on Friday afternoon.
The showpiece event of Sikkim Football, now in its 40th edition, is making a comeback after four years following two years of Covid pandemic, stadium renovation and last October’s flash flood.
Sixteen teams including four foreign clubs are featuring in this knockout tournament organised by the Sikkim Football Association (SFA). Some of these clubs are already in Gangtok to acclimatize with the cold weather here and Paljor Stadium’s artificial turf.
Kalighat Milan Sangha FC squad reached Gangtok on Wednesday and have done two sessions of training at Paljor Stadium. Coach Samar Deb said the players are excited and energized to give their best in the match against Sikkim Police. Win or loss is part of the game but the most important thing is to win the hearts of the football-loving people here with our performance, he expressed.
Deb had played in Governor’s Gold Cup for Kolkata club George Telegraph in the past when Paljor Stadium had a natural pitch. He thanked the Sikkim government and the SFA for giving the opportunity to Kalighat Milan Sangha FC.
The winner of Friday’s match will progress into the pre-quarter round where they face I-League side Gokulum FC, Kerala.
Meanwhile, all the four foreign clubs have been given direct quarterfinal berth. They are Transport United FC (Bhutan), Royal FC (Dubai), KDN FC (Malaysia) and Church Boys United (Nepal).
SFA general secretary Phurba Sherpa informed the Dubai and Malaysia clubs have received clearances from all concerned ministries of the Indian government and their visas are being processed. Confirmation to play has been given by all the four foreign clubs and their teams would be reaching Gangtok a couple of days before their respective quarterfinal matches, he said.
In its 40 years, the Governor’s Gold Cup would be witnessing the participation of clubs from non-SAARC nations for the first time. Teams from neighbouring Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh have featured in this tournament but it would be for the first time that people here will see professional clubs from Dubai and Malaysia playing at Paljor Stadium.
Representing Sikkim are 2023 A league champions Sikkim Police and runners up Gangtok Himalayan SC.
The neighbouring Darjeeling hills will be represented by GTA XI with the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) given the responsibility to send their strongest squad.
The remaining ten teams are drawn from various places of India along with those playing in ISL, I-League and Kolkata league. They include Northeast United FC, Chennai FC, Gokulam Kerala FC, Sudeva FC Delhi, Diamond Harbour FC Kolkata, Army Red, Punjab Police, Kalighat Milan Samity and Khawzawl Vengthar FC Mizoram (State I-Day football tournament champions).
Today’s Match
Sikkim Police vs Kalighat MS
Peep! 2 pm