United Sikkim Football Club to play first match in the All India Brigade of Gurkha Gold Cup in Darjeeling

Gangtok, Nov. 7: United Sikkim Football Club will play its first match in the All India Brigade of Gurkha Gold Cup in Darjeeling tomorrow with the hope that the team will be able to set its I-League second division campaign on the right track.

The club, co-owned by Bhaichung Bhutia, has high stakes in the Darjeeling match as its performance in the Federation Cup and Durand Cup was disappointing.

Twenty players, accompanied by chief coach H. Stanly Rozario, senior manager Arj-un Rai and two other club officials, left Gangtok around 11am for Darjeeling. Bhaichung, however, is in Gangtok.

“We aim to win the tournament in Darjeeling. We did not perform well in the Federation Cup and Durand Cup and by doing well in the Darjeeling tournament, we want to make our fans happy. The players are motivated,” said Rai.

The team manager said the players would have a light training in Darjeeling this evening before facing the Calcutta-based Techno Aryans in the quarterfinal tomorrow.

“The Techno Aryans is a good side and we expect a tight match tomorrow. Our players are prepared and want to give a very good performance, besides entertaining the Darjeeling spectators,” said Rai.

United Sikkim has been given a direct quarterfinal entry into the Gurkha Gold Cup.

Two boys from the Darjeeling hills are also part of the United Sikkim squad for the Gurkha Cup. The presence of defender Pranesh Dewan from Darjeeling and midfielder Jiten Rai from Kurseong is expected to fetch support from the crowds for United Sikkim.

“I feel great to play in Darjeeling representing Bhaichung Bhutia’s team. I want to give a good performance there. We hope that crowd will come to support us,” said Jiten.

Pranesh has also expectations from the crowd.

“It will be a proud moment for me to play for the United Sikkim in my home town. I have lots of friends there and hope to get support from them during the tournament,” he said.

The squad has been together since July for the Durand and the Federation cups.

“The tournament in Darjeeling will help us prepare for the coming Second Division I-League which is expected to start soon,” said Rai