United Sikkim players are back in action after keeping off the practice for two days,

Gangtok, Sept. 21: United Sikkim players are back in action after keeping off the practice for two days, shaken by the earthquake.

The players’ goal now is to shake the net in the Durand Cup tournament beginning in New Delhi in the first week of October.

Barring a few players who were out of Sikkim, most squad members for this season were either hanging out with their friends or relaxing in their rooms when the state was convulsed by the quake registered 6.8 on the Richer scale.

“I was at the salon with my friends. I had just paid for the service when the building starting trembling. I thought that the vibration would stop. But it persisted and we rushed out of the building,” said star footballer Renedy Singh.

Renedy tried to contact his sister who is in Gangtok with her husband. There was no network and after an hour, he managed to get in touch with her.

“I was relieved to hear that she and her baby are safe,” said the player.

“I am very sad to hear about the deaths and damage caused by the quake. Sikkim is like a second home for me.”

The footballer said he and his team mates had bounced back into the preparations for the Durand matches. “We started hard training today at Paljor Stadium after a gap of two days. We are preparing hard for the Durand Cup,” said Renedy.

United Sikkim’s Namibian recruit Quinton Jacobs was watching an English Premier League match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspurs in his hotel room when he felt the jolt.

“I didn’t realise initially what was happening. When it struck me that it was an earthquake, I rushed out of the hotel. We stayed out in open till 2am and came back to sleep in the lobby. Last night, too, we slept in the lobby which is close to the door so that we could exit fast in case of a tremor. For the next few days, it will be scary here, especially at night,” said Jacobs.

The captain Nim Tshering said his family members were fine back at home in Dzongu. But his house and agriculture holdings were damaged in the tremor.

“My family at Kusong in Dzongu is okay but there are damage to the main house and agriculture land. The cow shed has been damaged and the cattle are left out in the open. I am worried as there are reports of extensive damage in Dzongu,” said Tshering.

The co-owner of the club, Bhaichung Bhutia, experienced Sunday’s tremors at his native village Tinkitam in South Sikkim. Club senior manager Arjun Rai was also with him.

“We two had just reached his house and were having tea when we felt the quake. Bhaichung then tried hard to contact his wife Madhuri Tipnis Bhutia in Gangtok. She was staying alone with their twin children. After one hour, he managed to get in touch with them,” said Rai.

Bhaichung is out of Sikkim now.

On Monday, Bhaichung reached Gangtok and met the players.

“Most of them have experienced an earthquake for the first time. The players were initially panicked, but are more relaxed now. Yesterday, we observed a two-minute silence in the stadium to mourn the deaths,” said Rai.

TT