4th Dr. T. Ao Memorial Football Tournament: Manipur champions!

Manipur beat rivals and defending champions Mizoram 4-3 on penalties at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong tonight to lift the trophy of the fourth edition of the Dr. T. Ao Memorial Football Tournament, which was played from March 18 to 27.


RESULTS

Group A
18-Mar-2013: Meghalaya 3-0 Arunachal Pradesh
18-Mar-2013: Assam 2-0 Nagaland
20-Mar-2013: Assam 0-2 Arunachal Pradesh
20-Mar-2013: Meghalaya 4-0 Nagaland
22-Mar-2013: Nagaland 1-2 Arunachal Pradesh
22-Mar-2013: Meghalaya 3-0 Assam

Group B
19-Mar-2013: Mizoram 4-3 Sikkim
19-Mar-2013: Manipur 1-1 Tripura
21-Mar-2013: Manipur 3-1 Sikkim
21-Mar-2013: Mizoram 3-0 Tripura
23-Mar-2013: Sikkim 2-2 Tripura
23-Mar-2013: Mizoram 0-0 Manipur

Semifinals
25-Mar-2013: Mizoram 1-0 Arunachal Pradesh
25-Mar-2013: Meghalaya 0-1 Manipur

3rd Place Playoff
26-Mar-2013: Meghalaya 6-2 Arunachal Pradesh

Final
27-Mar-2013: Mizoram 1-1,3-4 Manipur [penalties]

VIDEO: Dr T Ao Football Tournament TV Promo

Here the television promo of the Dr T. Ao Memorial Football Tournament which is currently being held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong with all the Northeastern states taking part.

Meghalaya set to host Dr. T. Ao Memorial Football Tournament

The Union Minister of DoNER and Chairman of the North East Council, Pawan Singh Ghatowar has announced that the 4th Dr. T. Ao Memorial Football Tournament will be held in the state of Meghalaya. Tentatively the tournament has been scheduled from November 15 to 23 in Shillong.

According to DIPR NEC official release, it states that in order to promote healthy spirit of competition and camaraderie amongst the youth and players of the North East states, the North East Council (NEC) instituted the NEC Dr. T. Ao Memorial Football Tournament to be hosted by the Northeastern states in turn annually.

Nagaland, the home state of former India captain Dr. Talimeren Ao, hosted the inaugural Dr. T. Ao Memorial Football Tournament while Manipur and Mizoram hosted the second and third editions respectively.

Cash award for the tournament has been announced as following:

- Winner Rs. 700,000 (7 lakhs)
- Runners-Up Rs. 400,00 (4 lakhs)
- Third Place Rs. 200,000 (2 lakhs)
- 4th Place Rs. 100,000 (1 lakh)

- Fair Play Award Rs. 50,000
- 3rd/4th place finish in league stage @ Rs. 50,000 each

- Player of the Tournament Rs. 20,000
- Highest Goalscorer Rs. 10,000
- Best Goalkeeper Rs. 10,000
- Champion Team Coach and Management Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 40,000 respectively
- Runners-Up Team Coach and Management Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 20,000 respectively

Interview with Nirmal Chettri (India/Mohun Bagan)

Defender Nirmal Chettri has had a long journey from Sikkim to the Kolkata Maidans and this summer he makes the switch from East Bengal Club to Mohun Bagan AC. A big transfer in Kolkata and also for Nirmal, but with Australian striker Tolgay Ozbey also leaving the red-and-gold to join the green-and-maroon and that under controversial circumstances for Nirmal it has been a rather quite move. I caught-up with him for an interview...


Last season you finally made it into the senior Indian national team. We now have a new coach in Wim Koevermans. Whats your aim with Team India - just retain your place in the squad or regularly play in the first eleven?

After being for four years in the India probables squad for many camps that was the day I'll never forget in my life, my dream came true playing for India which I only used to dream about in my childhood!

I think its hard to move on from the loss of the old coach and then to work with the new coach you've got to do everything possible. My first aim is to be in the squad and then later to retain my regular place in the playing eleven.

I'm looking forward to work with our new coach Wim Koevermans and I would like to be part in every tournament India plays at international level.


After four years at East Bengal you are making the transfer to archrivals Mohun Bagan AC. Many red-and-gold fans are asking, why the switch? Are you feeling any added pressure ahead of the new season playing for the green-and-maroon?

Now I only can think about those days, its past now...

I think I got everything from the Red-&-Gold jersey. I am very grateful to some of the seniors players like Alvito and Uga who has been an inspiration to me. I thank the coaching staff and the team management for the support and believe they gave me.

Switching over to Mohun Bagan was like a dream of playing for two big clubs in India coming true for me. I just waited for the chance to play them. I got offers from them in two consecutive seasons but being with a contract at East Bengal I couldn't have held talks but now I'm officially a Sabuj-Maroon.

I depart as a friend and hope the supporters of East Bengal will always remember me for my hard work and my loyal service to club for the four years!

I know that there will be little extra pressure for me but I'll keep my head and soul calm. They signed me because I have proved myself at every level. So I'm ready to deliver good results for my new club.


United Sikkim FC from your home state will be making its debut in the I-League. What feelings do you have about this fact as a Sikkimese?

I am very happy for my idol Baichung Bhutia! It was not only his dream but mine also to see a team from Sikkim amongst the Elite in the I-League. It was a dream come true for the people of Sikkim. Now they'll get the chance to see the best teams from across India.

I hope United Sikkim FC will be like Shillong Lajong FC of Indian football and specially I'm waiting to play against them in Gangtok!

I hope they'll come above the expectations of the people and remain in the I-League for a long time!!!


You yourself are trying to do something for youth development in your state, Sikkim. Please do tell us more about it?

That has been the routine for me when I come home. Last year also I focused on the grassroot levels of villages. This year almost 50 local children in the age group of 9 - 20 years joined in the three days Summer Football Awareness Training Camp in my hometown (Melli). I'm doing it free of cost and its specially for the kids to raise awareness regarding injuries on the field. I'm just sharing it through my experience.

For me it's an amazing feeling to work with them for the short period.

And they are gradually becoming better as per their graphs comparing to last year.


I wish you all the best for the new season!

Thanks a lot Arunava!!!

66th Santosh Trophy - Day 4: Another high scoring day

The 66th edition of the National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy on its fourth day today with matches only in Cluster VI and VII in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.

Interesting is the fact that all matches today saw a high number of goals with 23 scored in only three games.

All were one-sided encounters. The biggest win of the day was scored by a talented Mizoram, 12-0 against a hapless Rajasthan, while fellow Northeastern side Assam won 6-0 against minnows Daman & Diu. The closest of the encounters was between Delhi and Sikkim, which Delhi won 4-1.


Day Four Results

Cluster-VI - Cuttack
14-May-2012: Rajasthan 0-12 Mizoram
[11,17,41 F.Lalrinpuia, 12,77,79 Zico Zoremsanga, 42 David Lalthansanga, 55, 84 Malsawmdawngliana, 63 Lallawmzuala, 74 H. Malsawmtluanga, 87 David Lalrinmuana]

Cluster-VII - Bhubaneswar
14-May-2012: Daman&Diu 0-6 Assam
[7,17 Sayaram Basumatary, 12 Jayanta Basumatary, 19,41 Khirod Das, 59 Manas Manjit Chetia]
14-May-2012: Sikkim 1-4 Haryana
[S: ?; H: 14,74,77 Abhisek, 26 Pankaj Sura]

66th Santosh Trophy: Sikkim name final squad

The Sikkim Football Association has named their final 20 players squad for the 66th edition of the National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy which will be played from May 11 to 27 across Orissa. The SFA had held trials and then a probables camp to select their state team.

The Sikkim FA announced their state squad in a program earlier today at the Paljor Stadium. While talking to media today SFA General Secretary Menla Ethenpa said that this time SFA has given emphasis to the young players that is why, this time most of the players are of age group of 20 to 25 years. Sikkim FA president B.K. Roka has extended his good wishes to the team.

Pushpa Gurung has been appointed by the SFA as the coach of the Sikkim state team, who have been drawn in the preliminary round Cluster VII along with Assam, Haryana and Daman&Diu playing their matches on May 12 (vs Assam), May 14 (vs Haryana) and May 16 (vs Daman&Diu).


SIKKIM

Players
1. Kunzang Bhutia; 2. Pawan Chhetri; 3. Sagar Rai; 4. Karma Lepcha; 5. Nim Tsering Lepcha; 6. Ram Limboo; 7. Pahalman Rai; 8. Sanjay Chhetri; 9. Rohit Ansari; 10. Tenzing Chopel Bhutia; 11. Mayal Dok Lepcha; 12. Sanjeev Rai; 13. Bijay Subba; 14. Shanti Ram; 15. Khusen Mangar; 16. Ongchu Lepcha; 17. Bikash Gurung; 18. Don Tsering Lepcha; 19. Bir Bahadur Pradhan (Vice-Captain); 20. Thupden Bhutia (Captain)

Officials
Pushpa Gurung (Coach), Karun Kumar Pradhan (Manager)

Dr. T. Ao NorthEast Football Trophy: Mizoram champions

Mizoram are the new Dr. T. Ao NorthEast Football Trophy champions after beating Sikkim 9-8 on penalties yesterday at the Paljor Stadium in Gangtok. The match had ended one-all in regulation time. The Dr. T. Ao NorthEast "DONER" Football Trophy was played at the Paljor Stadium from March 2 to 9 with the seven Northeastern states plus hosts Sikkim taking part. The tournaments aim is to promote football in the Northeast.

Mizoram received the champions trophy and Rs 700,000 (7 lakhs) while Sikkim were awarded Rs 400,000 (4 lakhs) and the runners-up trophy. Other prizes were handed out to the players, who performed throughout the tournament.


FIXTURES & RESULTS

Group A
Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Mizoram, Sikkim

02-Mar-2012: Sikkim 2-2 Arunachal Pradesh
03-Mar-2012: Mizoram 3-1 Assam
04-Mar-2012: Sikkim 1-3 Mizoram
05-Mar-2012: Arunachal Pradesh 1-2 Assam
06-Mar-2012: Sikkim 1-0 Assam
07-Mar-2012: Arunachal Pradesh 1-1 Mizoram

Group B
Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura

02-Mar-2012: Manipur 4-2 Nagaland
03-Mar-2012: Meghalaya 1-3 Tripura
04-Mar-2012: Manipur 1-0 Tripura
05-Mar-2012: Nagaland 0-0 Meghalaya
06-Mar-2012: Manipur 1-0 Meghalaya
07-Mar-2012: Nagaland 1-1 Tripura

Semifinals
08-Mar-2012: Manipur 0-1 Sikkim
08-Mar-2012: Tripura 2-4 Mizoram

Final
09-Mar-2012: Sikkim 1-1(8-9) Mizoram [on penalties]

Sikkim to host Dr. T. Ao NorthEast Football Trophy

Sikkim is set to host the next edition of the Dr. T. Ao NorthEast "DONER" Football Trophy will be played at the Paljor Stadium in Gangtok from March 2 to 9, 2012. The tournament will be organised in the state by the Sikkim Sports and Youth Affairs Department (S&YA) with financial support from the North Eastern Council (NEC) and Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DONER).

The aim of the Dr. T. Ao NorthEast Football Trophy is to promote football in the Northeastern region. The tournament would see all the eight Northeastern states take part besides hosts Sikkim there would be Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura in action.

The champions would received Rs 200,000 (2 lakhs), the losing finalists Rs 100,000 (1 lakh) and the semifinalists would get Rs 50,000 each. Besides these there would be a Fair Play Trophy with a cash reward of Rs 50,000, Player of the Tournament (Rs 25,000) plus Highest Goalscorer and Best Goalkeeper (Rs 10,000 each) of the tournament. The coach and manager of the champions will be given Rs 20,000 each, while the coach and manager from the runners-up team would get Rs 10,000.

The tournament was first held in May 2003 in the Assamese capital Guwahati with the hosts winning 4-1 on penalties against Manipur. The first edition had been organised by the Sport Authority of India, Guwahati then, while the last edition had been played in Manipur.

No 'Super Football' on January 23 in Kolkata

JPR Events today informed the media that the 'Super Football' event planned for January 23 at the Saltlake Stadium in Kolkata has been postponed indefinitely. On that day former stars like Brazilians Cafu, Pele and others would have graced the occasion, but that is not to be. A new date would be announced soon, but the organisers still wanted to organise something and are therefore doing something in Sikkim.

Now on January 22 a Worldstar XI vs Sikkim United FC would take place at the Paljor Stadium in Gangtok, which will feature some of the players originally scheduled to make the Kolkata trip who will be joined by some former Indian stars. But the names of the players have not been announced. Some of them will also come to Kolkata to have a youth clinic with kids as part of the organisers commitment to develop and better football in the state of West Bengal.

The organisers JPR Events also regreted any inconvenience caused to the public as well as the FPAI (Football Players Association of India) for the postponement of the match.

Interestingly reports had appeared in the Indian media in recent days which asked the validity of the organisers claims of having certain players coming for the match, with no sponsorship sold plus tickets not out in the market.

One would hope the match in Gangtok takes place as per the latest announcement.

North-East Premier League on the cards

To further promote club football across the Northeastern states the All India Football Federation is working on plans with the regions state football associations to launch the North-East Premier League. Kolkata-based Celebrity Management Group is set to partner the AIFF to organise and raise sponsorship for the league.

The NE Premier League is set to feature the top teams from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura along with a team from Sikkim. It will be an eight team league. The format has not been finalised yet, but the AIFF is pushing for a start during the ongoing 2011/12 season.

It has been decided that a clubs participating squad could include upto three foreigners, but it would be mandatory to have no less than six local players and the same number of Under-21 players. The rest of the team could be from anywhere in India with no Northeast restrictions.

From this set of players the three foreigners, two local players and one Under-21 would have to be in the starting eleven, while also having such a combination amongst the playing eleven throughout the game.

The aim of the league is to not only promote club football in the North-East, but also talent from the region and bridge the gap with the rest of the country.

Baichung Bhutia retires - End of an Era

Long-time India captain Baichung Bhutia earlier today at Football House in Dwarka, New Delhi announced his retirement from international. It marks the end of an era which started in 1995 with a match against Thailand on March 10, 1995 at the Nehru Cup in Kolkata and ended on January 18, 2011 with a substitute appearance against South Korea at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.



"It is a hard decision for any footballer to decide on his retirement and I wasn't any exception. But everyone has to retire one day. I wanted to retire after playing a match but recurring injuries prevented me from donning the India jersey for one more time," Baichung Bhutia announced in front of over a hundred journalists who had come for the occasion.



"I'm lucky enough to still be associated with football. My association with United Sikkim Football Club and my Football Schools will keep me going," an emotional Baichung added.



AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das handed the Sikkimese sniper a specially designed silver plaque and a shawl in the name of the federation.



Lauding Baichung's achievements Kushal Das said, "All good things come to an end and the AIFF will be seeking his support for the future development of the sport in the country.”



AIFF President Praful Patel in a public message thanked Baichung for his contribution to Indian football. "I thank Baichung Bhutia for his wonderful contribution to Indian football and the joy he has provided to all Indians by his performance and leadership of the Indian Team in a long and illustrious career. He is a true icon of Indian Football and it is indeed a sad day that he has decided to hang his boots from International Football."



Baichung Bhutia has done a lot for Indian football on and off the field, now his contribution will be more off the field...

VIDEO: NDTV feature on Baichung Bhutia

In the NDTV 'Marks for Campaign' they have made a feature on Baichung Bhutia and the start to his career back in Sikkim.

Here the link to the complete video feature

Paljor Stadium's new artificial turf inaugurated

In Gangtok, the capital of the Sikkim, they inaugurated their first artificial football turf in the state at the iconic Paljor Stadium today. The new ground was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Sikkim Dr. Pawan Chamling this afternoon.

The turf is said to be the biggest in the South Asian region covering more than 93,000 square feet, which is 3,000 sq.ft. larger than the turf at the Saltlake Stadium in Kolkata. The artificial turf was installed by the US company FieldTurf Tarkett.

The Sikkim Football Association had requested their state government to install the all weather turf to enable football throughout the year at the Paljor Stadium. The Sikkim government obliged and has footed the bill of Rs 37,7 Million (3,77 crores) to install the artificial turf.

The inaugural match was played between the Baichung Bhutia co-owned United Sikkim FC and a Sikkim Minister's XI. The match ended in a 2-2 draw with Baichung Bhutia himself and his friend Renedy Singh also playing in the friendly match.

Interesting to note is today another artificial turf ground, the Bangalore Football Stadium had its first competitive match with the I-League game between HAL and East Bengal Club. India now has three stadiums - Saltlake Stadium, Bangalore Football Stadium, Paljor Stadium - and a practice ground in Chowgule College in Goa with artificial turfs operational. Mumbai's Cooperage Ground is currently being turned into an artificial turf while Shillong and Imphal are also set to get artificial turfs under the FIFA program 'Win in India with India'.

United Sikkim FC launched in new avatar

United Sikkim Football Club (formerly United Sikkim Sporting Club) was relaunched yesterday at Kolkata's Taj Bengal hotel announcing the squad for the 2nd Division I-League along with the launch of the new club logo which has been designed by Philippe de Ridder.

"As a national player for over a decade (more than 15 years), I had a dream to own a football club. I see it fulfilled today. It's a historic day. I wish to make United Sikkim a big name in India," said Indian football icon Baichung Bhutia yesterday.

A strong team has been put together for the 2nd Division I-League with internationals like Renedy Singh and N.S. Manju in the squad plus seasoned pros on the Indian circuit like M. Suresh, Kalia Kulothungan, Bijen Singh and Jiten Rai, young talents and some good foreigners in Japanese defender Mituski Ichihara and Liberian attacking player John D. Menyongar.

The owners of the now professional club were also named. The majority stakeholder is Dubai-based FidelisWorld, while Baichung Bhutia and musical maestro Shankar Mahadevan are other joint owners of the club. Baichung also tried to bring Bollywood star John Abraham on board, but that hasn't worked out.

Mahadevan of the Shankar-Ehsan-Loy musical fame, who composed the popular World Cup theme song 'De Ghuma Ke' said he wanted to compose something different for the club. Mahadevan said, "I am composing a song for the team. I hope it will be as popular as my previous songs."


The Facebook fanpage of United Sikkim FC .


UNITED SIKKIM FC

Goalkeepers
Debjit Majumdar, Sukhdeb Ghosh, Tashi Tseten Bhutia

Defenders
Nanjangud Shivananju Manju, Mituski Ichihara, Muttath Suresh, Bijoy Das, V. Prem Kumar, Tanmoy Ghosh, Sumit Thapa, Pranesh Dewan, Sagar Rai

Midfielders
Potsangbam Renedy Singh, John D. Menyongar, APD Carvalho (Beto), Kalia Kulothungan, Beikhokhei Beingaichho, Lalrinfela, Martin Louis Joseph Daniel, Jiten Rai, Nim Tshering Lepcha, Pradip Hembrom, Mayal Dok Lepcha

Forwards
Baichung Bhutia, Joseph Lapira, Mutum Bijen Singh, Budhiram Tudu, Tenzing Tsephel Bhutia

Officials
Stanley Rozario (Chief Coach), Satyabrata Bhowmick (Assistant Coach), Arjun Rai (Manager)

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!!!

United Sikkim Sporting Club: Baichung's dream project

India captain Baichung Bhutia is currently focusing on getting match fit again for the upcoming 2011 AFC Asian Cup, but off the field Baichung has been doing a lot which has to do with his own future but also that of Indian football. Be it forming the Football Players Association of India a few years ago, launching the Bhaichung Bhutia Football School a few weeks ago and now Baichung is trying to get his own club United Sikkim Sporting Club to play in the second division of the I-League.

United Sikkim Sporting Club is based in Gangtok with Baichung Bhutia as its patron and currently also main financial backer with support from the Government of Sikkim. Baichung's dream is to see United Sikkim SC one day amongst the best clubs in India.

Baichung had told IANS from the training camp in Dubai, "United Sikkim will surely boost football in Northeast. Things are still premature as we have just applied for permission from the AIFF. But we will look to run the club in a professional manner, with the help of some corporates."

And the club is already in action as United Sikkim SC are already part of the football set-up in Sikkim and at the Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup about two month's back they had beaten Bhutan XI in their biggest win so far.

Baichung in the name of the club has applied for a 30 acre plot from the Sikkim Government for building a football specific stadium and Academy infrastructure, which if accepted could help the club attract some of the best talent initially from the Northeast and in future from across India.

United Sikkim SC has handed in the necessary documents to the AIFF regarding participation in the I-League's 2nd Division this season, but some more details are wanted from them and if those documents are correct and accepted then the club could be seen in action in the second tier of Indian club football.

Manipur to host Dr T. Ao Memorial Football Tournament

This time around Manipur will play hosts for the Dr T. Ao Memorial Football Tournament to be played from November 21 to 30 in Imphal. The tournament is funded by the ministry for Development of North Eeastern Region (DoNER). The last edition was played in Nagaland.

In all the seven Northeastern states along with Sikkim will be seen in action. The eight participating states will be divided into two groups of four teams each with the top two sides making it to the semifinals. And the tournament can be seen as an own Santosh Trophy of the Northeast in this football crazy part of India and it gives young talent the chance to compete with the best from the region, who aren't playing at the top national professional level.

The All Manipur Football Association has named L. Nandakumar Singh as the states coach with S. Premkanta Singh as the goalkeeping coach and Ng. Brojendra Singh as the manager. 28 players have been called for the trials to select the final squad for Manipur, who would like to keep the trophy in the state.

Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup kicked-off today

The 32nd edition of the Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup kicked-off today at the Paljor Stadium in the state capital Gangtok. In total 14 teams will be taking part, but due to the Durand Cup being held at the same time, not many I-League sides can take part still the field of participating teams is strong. The tournament happens to be the only tournament to have been held uninterruptedly for the last 31 years.

Besides defending champions Bengal-Nagpur Railway from Kolkata, the tournament will see two I-League sides in Pune FC and ONGC from Mumbai take part. Also participating are Northeastern biggies Shillong Lajong FC and Kolkata giants Mohammedan Sporting Club. Other participants are former champions Punjab Police, Bengal Mumbai FC and Techno Aryan Club from Kolkata. The foreign flavour will be added through Bhutan XI plus Nepalese sides Three Star and Manang Mashangdi; while the local sides will be United Sikkim Sporting Club, Denzong Boyz and Sikkim Police.

The opening match today was between local side United Sikkim Sporting Club and Bhutan XI. And the local side, who have India captain Baichung Bhutia as their patron and financier, defeated their Himalayan rivals 1-0. United Sikkim Sporting Club will now face Manang Mashangdi from Nepal on October 23 in a pre-quarterfinal match. The other Nepali club, Three Star, has been given a pre-quarterfinal berth and will take on Pune FC on October 25. Teams from Nepal are widely popular in Sikkim and attract huge crowds.

Shillong Lajong FC has also been given a pre-quarterfinal berth and on October 26 it will lock horns with the winners of the local derby between Sikkim Police and Denzong Boyz. Defending champions BNR, Mohammedan Sporting Club, Techno Aryan Club and Bengal Mumbai FC have all been given quarterfinal berths as the Sikkim FA considers them to be the higher ranking clubs among the other participants. The final will be played on November 2.

The Sikkim FA secretary Menla Ethanpa said before the start of the tournament, "We are expecting tough contest during the tournament as the teams are evenly poised."