Monday, July 4, 2011

Footballers celebrate 2nd Division Sikkim League’s return after decade-long hiatus

GANGTOK, 03 July: The revival the Second-Division Sikkim League by Sikkim Football Association has received an encouraging response from footballers in the state. The S-league is returning after a gap of 10 years.
This season, S-league is providing a platform to around 300 players, especially excited youngsters from around the state, representing 12 teams playing out at the Paljor Stadium.
The S-League was inaugurated by the Sports & Youth Affairs Minister, NK Pradhan at Paljor Stadium on Saturday.

The inaugural match was played between GVS Football Academy [Central Pendam] and Lower Arithang FC [Gangtok], which the former won 3-0.
In the second match of the inaugural day, FC United [Jorethang] thrashed UBFC [Rabongla] 7 goals to 1.
On Sunday, in the first match Bhaley Dara [Jorethang] bulldozed RYSFC [Middle Arithang] 4-0, while in the second match of the day Brotherhood FC [Ranipool] defeated Tathangchen FA 3-2.
In the first match, Pritam Suman opened the goal account for Bhaley Dara in the 17th minutes and within four minutes his teammate, Bishan Rai, scored a quick brace in the 21st and 25th minutes. The fourth goal for Bhaley Dara was scored by Anil Rai in the 57th minute.
In the second match, Smile Rai scored the fastest goal of the league thus far in the 1st minute of the match for Brotherhood FC and in the 18th minute his teammate scored the second goal for the team.
But, a brace by Sudesh Subba of Tathangchen FA in 34th minute and 42nd minute [penalty shot] equalized the score in the first half itself. In the 70th minute, Anjit Subba scored the winning goal for Brotherhood FC.
A total of 12 teams from different parts of the state have singed up for the S-league, which will conclud on 27 August. The league will take a break from 04 to 15 August to leave the ground free for the Sir Tashi Namgyal Memorial Football Tournament for Independence Day Cup.
The 12 teams have been divided into 2 groups and each team will play 5 matches and the topper of each group will get promoted to the first division S-League and join the six first division clubs.
The teams already in the first division are Sikkim United FC, Sikkim Police FC, SAI Namchi, Dzongri FC, Boy’s Club and Sikkim State Academy. The first division S-league is scheduled to start in the first week of September.
The SFA general secretary, Menla Ethenpa mentioned the young players were very excited to play on the artificial turf where even many senior players have not played yet.
He expressed his gratitude to the Sports and Youth Affairs Department for allowing the SFA to hold the S-league at Paljor Stadium on behalf the SFA and footballers around the state.
“Our target is to play football throughout the year under the new format of the league by playing the matches on Saturday’s, Sunday’s and government holidays, which will also provide entertainment for the people by providing them a choice to spend their weekends and holidays,” Mr Ethenpa said.
On 09 July [Saturday], Young Star FC [Bojoghari] will take on Tibetan FC [Gangtok] in the first match, while the second match will be played between GVSFA [Central Pendam] and FC United [Jorethang].
On 10 July, RYSFC [Middle Arithang] will take on Denzong Boys Junior [Gangtok] in the first match and in the second match Bhaley Dara FC [Naya Bazaar] will be playing against Brotherhood FC.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Readers are invited to comment on, criticise, run down, even appreciate if they like something in this blog. Comments carrying abusive/ indecorous language and personal attacks, except when against the people working on this blog, will be deleted. It will be exciting for all to enjoy some earnest debates on this blog...