Soccer line-up for Kalimpong

Kalimpong, Aug. 5: Twelve teams from different parts of India and the neighbouring countries will lock horns in the blue ribbon event of Kalimpong football season, the Independence Shield, which kicks off here tomorrow.

Former Indian captain and co-owner of the Sikkim United Football Club Bhaichung Bhutia will be the chief guest at the inaugural match at the Mela Ground.

Pakyong XI and Salua Football Academy will clash in the first match tomorrow. The semi-finals will be held on August 12 and 13, followed by the final on August 15.

Urgen “Mini” Lama, the president of the Kalimpong Sports Association which is organising the event, said the winning team would be richer by Rs 50,000, while the runner-up would go home with Rs 25,000. “The winner will also get the Independence Shield,” he added.

The current holder of the shield is local team, Apex XI. The team hopes it will lift the trophy this time also, riding on the overwhelming home support. But they are expected to face tough competition from outstation teams, especially four clubs from the armed forces and Nepal’s CFC.

Soccer enthusiasts are also looking forward to two relative young teams, Salua Football Academy and the Gorkha Boys Football Club from Delhi.

Vijay Kumar Henry, coach and co-founder of the Gorkha Boys FC, said over phone from Delhi: “We have been training hard for the last 10 days. We will be coming with a 23-member squad that will be captained by Jhaman Thapa.” The team, Henry said, plays in the B Division in the Delhi league.

The Salua academy also hopes it will give other teams a run for their money. “Ours is a young team. In sports, nothing can be predicted. What I can say with certainty is that my wards will play good football,” said Mohan Thapa, the coach and the owner of the academy.

The team will be captained by Laxman Kutchery. “Laxman is a stopper and a player the fans are looking forward to. The other boy who is really talented is our striker Bikash Chhetri,” said Thapa.

The Independence Shield over the years has become very popular and draws fans from across the Darjeeling hills and Sikkim.

Mid-August marks the culmination of the local football season. The final of the Mini League (Under 14) will also be held on August 15, just before the Independence Shield final takes place. And the following day, the finals of three different tournaments will be held. They are the Women’s League, C Division and inter-school tournament.

RAJEEV RAVIDAS{TT}