Watching United Sikkim FC in training

United Sikkim Football Club is Indian football captain Baichung Bhutia's dream project and Bhai is working on all fronts to make it a big success. As the team is currently holding training-cum-selection sessions in the morning, I thought of visiting them at their base there in Kolkata and get a first hand view of things at United Sikkim.

United Sikkim FC's home is in the hill state's capital Gangtok, but Kolkata has been chosen as the teams base for players selection and preparation for the 2.Division of the I-League. And it marks a start to Baichung's dream to see United Sikkim one day amongst the best clubs in India.

The club has already been in action as United Sikkim FC are part of the football set-up in Sikkim and at the Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup a few month's back they had beaten Bhutan XI in their biggest win so far.

But now bigger tasks await the United Sikkim squad, so new players are being sought to strengthen the team. The names of internationals like N.S. Manju, Renedy Singh and Abhishek Yadav are being linked with the club along with other established players on the Indian circuit; which shows what clouth Baichung has amongst the players.

In today's trials players like Gurjinder Singh, Jagadish Papiah Kumar and Suman Datta were in action besides rather unknown players, while players like Pachau Lalam Puia and Crispin Chhetri watched from the sidelines. And Baichung Bhutia was always around the team in different roles; be it as mentor, observer, manager, motivator and a little bit of coaching.

The journey has started for United Sikkim and I wish them all the best!!!