Denzong Boyz to train for I-League second division reprise with acclimatization in Siliguri

SAGAR CHHETRI
GANGTOK, 23 Feb: Denzong Boys’ Football Club [DBFC] has qualified again for the second division I-League. It had debuted in the league the last season. With this, Sikkim will have two clubs in the I-League. This time, it may be recalled, United Sikkim Football Club has also qualified.
DBFC is now leaving for further practice at Kanchenjunga Stadium in Siliguri after completing its practice sessions in the state. An important reason to train in Siliguri to acclimatize for the league venues- likely to be either Guwahati or Shillong in the month of March.

The 28-member squad of the club includes 2 players from Kurseong, 2 from Kalimpong, 2 from Mizoram, 1 from Manipur, 2 from Delhi, 1 from Nepal, 2 foreign players from Cameroon and 1 from Liberia and the rest are local players of Sikkim.
The team will be lead by Tashi Rapden Bhutia as captain, and have Thupten Rapgyal Bhutia as the coach.
Addressing a press conference today, Managing Director, DBFC, Phurba Sherpa, informed that after going through training sessions in the state the team members are now going to start training at Siliguri to acclimatize with the weather of the plains.
He informed that in the last season played at Guwahati most of the players took ill due to dehydration and other complaints due to hot weather; so this time, the club has decided to practice in Siliguri before leaving for the tournament so that they are conditioned better.
The club has expressed its gratitude to the Kanchenjunga Stadium authority for allowing them to practice there and also the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs for having facilitated the permission.
Club Secretary, Sonam Gurung informed that most of the team members have already played for the renowned clubs in the country and some of them are upcoming and promising players of the state.
He informed that the two players from Cameroon were members of Cameroon national team and Liberian player was also member of the national team and a player from Nepal has also recently attended the national football camp at home.
“This time, we have picked promising players from the state to encourage them by providing them exposure in the prestigious I-League and if good clubs wants to take them then we will release them”, Mr Gurung said.
Director, Samdup Wangchuk Lachungpa, mentioned that it is good news for the state that two local clubs have qualified for the L-League and if one of them could qualify for the first division then it would open opportunities for lots of local players.
He also mentioned that in comparing of last season team this time the club has strong team and after training sessions in Siliguri would be all set the team for the I-League.
It was informed that the club has been trying to bring a professional football culture in the state since 2009 by paying salaries and other attractive packages to its team members and contributing to the state in solving the unemployment problem.
If other local clubs also want to play in the I-League, then our club is there to provide all possible help to them as more local clubs playing in this prestigious tournament would open more opportunities for promising local players, they said.
The club has also expressed its gratitude to the Chief Minister, who is the chief patron of the club, and Political Secretary to the CM, Hissey Lachungpa, who is the patron of the club, and all the sponsors and well wishers for their support to the club.