Governor’s Gold Cup back after a year’s gap

16 TEAMS INCLUDING 3 FROM SIKKIM TO FIGHT IT OUT FROM 30 OCT -10 NOV
GANGTOK, 17 Oct: Sikkim Football Association [SFA] has announced that the 33rd edition of All India Governor’s Gold Cup Football Tournament 2012 will be held from 30 October to 10 November here at Paljor Stadium.
A total of 16 teams from different parts of the country and Nepal including 3 from Sikkim are scheduled to take part in the tournament. The participating teams are Three Star and one more club from Nepal, Pune FC [U-19], Techno Aryans [Kolkata], Eastern Railways [Kolkata], Langshing SC [Shillong], Mohan Bagan Sail, Dodsal FC [Mumbai], Bhawanipur FC [Kolkata], Calcutta Customs, BSF [Jalandhar], Dimapur XI [Nagaland, Arhima FC [Meghalaya] and Sikkim’s own I-League team, United Sikkim Football Club, Siniolchu SC Namchi and State Sports Academy.
Simultaneously, SFA is also organizing All Sikkim Women’s Football Championship along with the Governor’s Gold Cup, which will have two women’s team each from four districts.
This was announced in a SFA press conference today at Football House, which was addressed by the president, BK Roka, general secretary, Menla Ethenpa and other executive members of the SFA.
Mr Roka mentioned that inspite of having all preparations in place the SFA could not organize the tournament last year due to the 18 September earthquake. However, he added that this time the association has decided to organize this year’s tournament in a grand manner with good clubs of the country participating in it.
Speaking about the participating teams, the president informed that due to norms and conditions of the AIFF the association could not touch first division I-League teams. He further added that the tournament has second division I-League teams and other reputed clubs of the country and the tournament will also have two clubs from Nepal.
It is informed that the SFA has given an opportunity to three local clubs of Sikkim to participate in the tournament which includes Sikkim-League champion, Siniolchu Club Namchi and this year’s Independent Day Cup champion, State Sports Academy and the I-League team, the United Sikkim Football Club.
Mr Ethenpa stated that to encourage women footballers of Sikkim, the SFA has also decided to organize a state-level women’s football simultaneously with the tournament and two teams from each district will participate in this tourney. These women’s teams will be constituted by the AFC C licensed coaches of Sikkim and matches in the women’s football will be played before the match of the Governor’s gold cup every day, he informed and added that the fixture for the tournament is being prepared.
Speaking on the gate fee for the tournament, SFA treasurer, Nanga Tshering Bhutia informed that Rs 50 for hill side gallery, Rs 100 for northern and southern galleries, Rs 200 for western galleries, Rs 300 for VIP gallery and Rs 10 for students in uniform will be charged.  Likewise, SFA is also offering 30% discount on ticket prices for those willing to buy tickets for the whole tournament in advance.
Speaking on the future plans of SFA, the vice-president, Dr Sonam T Ethenpa mentioned that the SFA plans to carry out various activities for the overall development and promotion of football in the state. He informed that SFA’s district bodies will start functioning immediately to carry out its activities in the districts.
A total of 32 teams participated in the second division Sikkim-league but if there is no follow-up on these clubs then the state could lose some good local players so SFA plans to make some arrangements in the near future so that good local footballers could find place in the country’s best clubs, he mentioned.
Dr Ethenpa further spoke on plans to encourage club culture in the state by approaching corporate houses for sponsorships, initiating inter-school football, assist in provision of infrastructure, etc.
The press conference was also addressed by the joint secretary [publicity], Lerap Bhutia.