Sikkim sends 20-member squad for Santosh Trophy

GANGTOK, 29 Jan: A 20-member team will be representing Sikkim in the 67th edition of Senior National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy 2013 scheduled to be held at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh from 01 February to 03 March.
The final list of the 20-member team was announced by the SFA general secretary, Menla Ethenpa today at Paljor Stadium. A total of 36 footballers attended the trials, of whom 20 were shortlisted to represent the State at this prestigious tournament by a selection committee constituted the SFA headed by SYA Deputy Director [coaching], Thupden Rapgyal.
The team will be led by Tenzing Tsephel as team captain, while other team members are Tshering Zangpo, Chandan Chettri, Abhishek Rai, Tempo Bhutia, Bikash Thapa, Pawan Chettri, Khusen Mangar, Nicolas Rai, Bibek Bhutia, Yougyal Lepcha, Soraj Rawat, Sagar Rai, Pema Bhutia, Inchen Yonzon, Karma Dorjee, Narayan Chettri, Yakub Biswakarma, Pahalman Rai and Samir Pradhan.
Amos Subba has been given the responsibility of the team coach for the first time, while Dorjee Tamang of SFA will also accompany the team as manager.
In the qualifying round, Sikkim has been placed in Cluster D along with Madhya Pradesh, Tripura, Pondicherry and Uttarakhand. Sikkim will be playing its first match against Madhya Pradesh on 03 February followed by the second match against Pondicherry on 05 February, then with Uttarakhand on 07 February and finally against Tripura on 09 February.
While announcing the names of team members, Mr Ethenpa mentioned that this time the SFA has given emphasis to young players so the team mostly consists of U-20 players. He further expressed that due to financial constraints SFA could not rope in Sikkimese players playing in different clubs of the country.
While congratulating the selected players, he encouraged the team to maintain discipline as they will be acting as ambassadors of the state. For those who could not make it in the team, he urged them not to get disheartened but to put in more effort to get through next time.
Likewise, Mr Rapgyal mentioned that this time a young team will be representing the state and added that participating in this prestigious tournament was big opportunity for the young players. In this regard, he urged them to put in all their efforts and to maintain good discipline for the sake of the state.
The team will be leaving for the tournament on Wednesday.