SFA ropes in football giants for this year’s Governor’s Gold Cup

GANGTOK, 22 Oct: Sikkim Football Association has announced that the 34th edition of All India Governor’s Gold Cup Football Tournament will be held from 07 to 20 November here at Paljor Stadium. Sixteen teams from different parts of the country including three teams from Nepal will take each other on in the tournament.
This was announced today in a SFA press conference held here at Football House, which was addressed by president, BK Roka, general secretary, Menla Ethenpa and other executive members of the SFA.
The participating teams are I-League teams Mohun Bagan, Md Sporting and Mumbai Tigers along with Tata Football Academy, Royal Wahinghdo [Shillong], Aryans Club, George Telegraph, Eastern Railways, Kalighat Club, Rising Star [Odisha], Jammu & Kashmir Bank. This time there are three clubs from Nepal including current top ranking clubs Manang Masangdi Club and Three Star Club along with Nepal National Youth team, who qualified for the AFC Tournament 2014 from SAARC countries this year.  Similarly, the India U-19 team is also likely to participate in the tournament.
From Sikkim, this year’s Sikkim-League champion, United Sikkim Football Club has got direct entry in the tournament along with this year’s Independence Day Cup champion, Sikkim Police FC. Sikkim Police will be unable to participate in the Governor’s Gold Cup this time since the All Indian Police Meet will also be held at the same time.
Addressing the press conference, Mr Ethenpa stated that due to the I-league being held during the same time SFA could not get giant clubs in the tournament in previous years so this year the SFA was in constant touch with the AIFF and also closely monitoring the I-League. He added that this period has no I-League matches so they have been able to rope in some I-league teams along with other good teams of the country and top ranking clubs from Nepal. The SFA has received final confirmations from all of these clubs and is yet to receive written confirmation from the India U-19 team and Mohun Bagan.
Mr Ethenpa stated that due to the Governor’s Gold Cup many local footballers were picked up by reputed clubs of the country. “The success stories of our Bhaichung Bhutia, Nirmal Chettri, Sanju Pradhan, Uttam Rai, Bikash Jairu is there for all to see,” he added. He further added that the tournament provided a good platform to many local footballers so this time again the SFA hopes that it would provide a better platform to local players.
SFA president, Mr Roka informed that the Governor Shriniwas Patil and the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling are the Patron-in-Chief, while Sports Minister, NK Pradhan, Chief Whip, Ugen T Gyatso, Gangtok MLA, Dorji Namgyal and Mayor, KN Topgay are Patrons, SFA president is the chairman and SFA women’s wing president, R Ongmu is the vice-chairman of the organizing committee. He also expressed his gratitude to the Governor, CM, Sports Minister and Chief Secretary and others for their support in organizing the tournament in a grander manner. Being a football lover, the Governor has extended his support and ideas to organize the tournament, he added.
Mr Roka informed that a short coaching camp for local referees would also be organized during the tournament. He informed that the sale of tickets will be launched on 29 October in front of the Tourism Office.
With the aim to attract more spectators, the SFA has started a new system of selling mini season tickets by dividing the tournament into four rounds and each round will have season tickets. The first three rounds have four matches and the fourth round will have semi-finals and final match. Each season ticket has a counterfoil which will be put in a container for the lucky draw which will be held for each round.
It is informed that the initial rounds will have bikes for the winner and the SFA will try to give away a car as the prize for the final round lucky draw. However, tickets will be sold daily as well but these would not be eligible for the lucky draw.
The entry fee for hill side is Rs 50 and Rs 10 for students in school uniforms, Rs 100 for southern and northern galleries, Rs 200 for left and right galleries of VIP gallery and Rs 300 for VIP gallery.