There is good news for the football lovers in the Darjeeling hills. After a gap of 25 long years the All India Brigade of Gurkha Gold Cup will be held in Darjeeling with the financial support of the Government of West Bengal and it will be organised by the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Sports Association and the local district administration. The matches would be played at the St Joseph's School (North Point) grounds with tickets priced at Rs 20, 40 and 100.
The tournament approved by the IFA (West Bengal) will see 12 teams from across India in action. Amongst them are Army XI, Indian Football Association XI (Kolkata), Manipur XI, Tata Football Academy, Simla Youngs FC (Delhi) and Techno Aryan Club (Kolkata) besides local hill sides and clubs. The champions would receive Rs 100,000 (1 lakh) and the runners-up Rs 50,000.
Gorkha personnel serving in the British Army had originally instituted the Gurkha Gold Cup which had been started in 1975 with Mohun Bagan AC the first champions. The tournament was regulary held until 1985 with East Bengal Club the last champions before the tournament could no longer be held due to the Gorkhaland agitation which started in 1986. In those days the Darjeeling District Sports Association used to organise the tournament with top teams from Kolkata and across the country taking part. The organisers hope to regain some of the lost glory and have an even stronger participating field next year.
The organisers also hope that the tournament would kick start the revival of other sporting events which used to be held in Darjeeling and the adjourning districts.
The Governor of Bengal has been made the chief patron of the tournament, while former footballers Shyam Thapa, Chuni Goswami and Prasun Banerjee besides current India captain Baichung Bhutia are the patrons of the tournament.
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