On becoming an I-League State

KARMA YOUGYAL
It did not happen overnight. The effort and determination of Mr. Baichung Bhutia in shaping the United Sikkim Football Club (USFC) into an I-League Team by roping in vibrant sponsors and launching the team in the arena of Professional Football greatly contributed to this maiden achievement. The persistent appeal to the All India Football Federation for the allotment I-League 2nd Division matches by the past and present President and General Secretary of Sikkim Football Association made it possible to happen ultimately.
The emergence of a number of football players from Sikkim at the national scene led by the likes of Sanju Pradhan, Nirmal Chettri, Ashish Chettri, Ong Tshering Lepcha, Bikash Jairu, Sanjay Chettri, Santu Subba, Raman Gurung, Sagar Rai, Nim Tshering Lepcha, Uttam Rai, Nim Dorjee Tamang all products of Namchi Sports Hostel proved that Sikkim has the talent and if nurtured correctly, has the potential to go to the top in the footsteps of the iconic Baichung Bhutia. The success story of these players at the national scene, supporting their families economically can be predominantly attributed to the Scheme “Search for more Baichungs” conceived and started by the author of this article by drawing inspiration from one of the speeches of the present Chief Minister. I must put on record the valuable contributions made by Mr. Hangu Norden Lepcha, Late Soloman Lepcha and Mr Suren Chettri for their untiring and dedicated service in shaping these boys.
Before dealing with the impact of being the I-League state let me briefly narrate the history of the football Association in Sikkim as Sikkim Football Association at the helm of affairs and as the major stake holder in this I-League venture.
Sikkim Football Association was formed in the year 1976 after Sikkim merged in the National mainstream and the legacy of the game of football is drawn from the erstwhile Gangtok Football Association which was synonymous with Kumar Sporting Club, predominantly a Football Club established by the then late Crown Prince of Sikkim during 1940s. This team won the first cup outside Sikkim in the year 1948.
The actual growth and popularity of football in Sikkim started with the launch of the All India Governor’s Gold Cup Football Tournament in the year 1979 with the blessings of the first Governor of the state Shri B.B. Lal. The Association has never looked back since then, facing challenges and confronting trials and tribulations.
Sikkim, the tiniest state of the Indian Union with a population of less than half a million has given some of the best football players to the country, such as late Pem Dorji, Kul Bahadur Chettri. Karma Lodey Bhutia is perhaps the first Sikkimese school boy to represent the country at the Asian International Football Championship in Seoul, South Korea. Baichung Bhutia, the legendary National Captain and as the days go by more and more players from the state are slowly but surely dominating the National scene. To name a few, Ong Tshering Lepcha who captained the India U-19, Sanju Pradhan and Nirmal Chettri are dominant part of the Golden Brigade- East Bengal, Michael Lepcha represented India in school football team in ASFC in Japan. Ashish Chettri represented India U-14 team in Iran. Bikash Jairu, Robin Gurung, Santu Subba, Sanjay Chettri, Nim Tshering Lepcha, Sagar Rai and Nim Dorjee Tamang are vibrant players donning the colors of various premier clubs in the country. The latest addition being Uttam Rai, a member of the India U-17 presently touring the USA as part of their exposure-training.
Sikkim girls are not far behind from their male counterparts either in spite of limited exposures. While Mrs. Pushpa Chettri represented the country way back in 1986 at the Asia Cup Women’s Football Championship held in Jakarta, Indonesia, Miss Anuradha Chettri played for the country in 2009 and Ms. Nima Lamu Bhutia represented India in FCA U-19 at Dhaka, Bangladesh.
SFA is committed towards the development and growth of Football in the state, which in the near future would feed the country with more players from the abundant resource of its upcoming rich talented young players.
Now that Sikkim has been elevated to the prestigious elite group of vibrant football states known as “The I-League States” with the qualification of United Sikkim Football Club to First Division I-League. The repercussions are enormous in terms of value added professional football from the point of the quality and standard of football that the state is open to witness, from meeting the infrastructural requirement for hosting the home Matches for USFC to testing the organizational skill of the state Association. Everyone connected with these important aspects of being the I-League State need to gear up and roll up their sleeves right away to accomplish and strive towards achieving a sustainable goal.
With this achievement Sikkim has been firmly placed on the Map of the Professional Football of the country of 1.2 billion population. Sikkim is now at par with the elite states like West Benga l(Kingfisher East Bengal, McDowell Mohun Bagan, Prayag United SC), Goa (Dempo SC Pvt. Ltd. Churchill Brothers SC, Salgaocar S.C, Sporting Clube de Goa), Maharashtra (Air India, Mumbai FC,Pune FC),Kerala(Chirag United), Karnataka (HAL Bangalore) and Meghalaya (Shillong Lajong FC) with regard to standard of the game, basic infrastructural requirements and the organizational capabilities. If we deal with these important aspects of being the I-League state, the responsibility of sustaining at the top distinctly lies with different agencies.
As regards the standard of the game and to maintain the I-League status, the responsibility lies with USFC and its Management, its promoters, its players, its Coach and support staff and above all Mr. Baichung Bhutia, his determination and charisma to galvanize home support for the home team. I wish the Team would look more homely with more players of Sikkimese origin which will surely help gain support not only moral support but financial support after all we have entered the arena of Professional Football. When we can spend lacs of rupees sending SMSes to make Prashant Tamang the Indian idol, there is no reason why the generous sports loving people will not come forward. You only need to create a fan based network that will reach every Sikkimese house hold. Its not that we do not have domestic players, there are scores of players like Sanju, Nirmal and others signed for other premier clubs in the country. However, it should be best left to the wisdom of the think tank of USFC who cannot afford to be carried away by emotions. They must work a strategy to sustain the status they have earned and be among the top and aim to beat the Golden Brigade and Mohun Bagan on their own turf.
Thanks to the visionary and innovative Chief Minister of Sikkim, the up gradation of the Paljor Stadium was undertaken at the right time understanding the need and aspirations of the sporting fraternity of Sikkim. The laying of the Astro Turf as the playing surface has brought in multi-faceted advantages from its utility point of view as well as a democratic protocol as a destination for the I-League matches. It made it possible for us to dare to bid for the recently concluded I-League 2nd Division and placed Sikkim at the highest level as far as football is concerned. Yet we cannot be optimistic, the challenges ahead are huge and time is running out. When the next season of I-League starts in September, 2012, we must be 100% ready with required infrastructural facilities. The Paljor Stadium will host 13 odd Home Matches for USFC against teams like East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Churchil Brothers, Air India, Chirag United and so on. There will be a huge media presence both print & electronic and Live TV coverage of all the matches. The matches will be played partially day and night according to the television time slot allotted for these matches and hence the Paljor Stadium will have to be up graded with:
• Flood Lighting Systems.
• An exclusive Media Centre fully equipped to cater to the visiting media persons.
• Well placed TV Camera platforms in the stadium
• Commentary Boxes separately for TV and Radio.
• A well equipped Medical Centre within the stadium complex capable of handling emergencies.
• Well furnished Players’ and Referees’ Change Rooms with running hot and cold water.
• Will the Digital Score Board ever become functional.
I am sure the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs must be gearing up as it understands the urgency and importance of the above facilities.
Provided all the wishes are fulfilled, the gigantic responsibility lies with the Sikkim Football Association as the major stake holder of the entire event. It is time that it regroups under its new leadership and cannot afford to be complacent. It must gear up and show the organizational capabilities and skills to its best and in a professional touch by taking lessons from the errors and omissions of the recently concluded I-League 2n Division at the Paljor stadium
The I-League is not just a high standard football matches confined to the Paljor Stadium alone. The amount of media coverage and their very presence in the Capital will help Sikkim’s exposure in terms of Tourism, trade and industry and its overall development as a happening state.
[The writer is a retired Joint Director, Department of Sports & Youth Affairs]