United Sikkim FC in Kolkata

*Saurabh Rai

United Sikkim Football Club along with twenty other teams from across the country has got the green signal from the All India Football Federation to participate in the second division I-League which starts next month.

It’s a welcome news for the Football lovers in Sikkim along with the players as United Sikkim FC’s entry into the second division will definitely give a boost to the game of football in Sikkim, a state which has always prided itself on its unconditional love for the Beautiful game.

United Sikkim FC1

United Sikkim FC1

The team is camped in Kolkata right now where the Head coach, Stanley Rosario along with the patron Bhaichung Bhutia (Who is now in Sikkim for a family wedding) is holding trials along with the training sessions at the Sports Authority of India complex to recruit new players into the team. Ten boys from Sikkim who are already part of United Sikkim is also included in this camp.

I had the pleasure of watching the team’s training sessions at the SAI Center for four days where the boys from Sikkim along with the other players on trail played practice matches. Many stars of India football dropped in to watch the training which included the Indian player of the year 2010,Gouramangi Singh along with Mehrajuddin Wadoo and Renedy Singh who is likely to sign for United Sikkim.

Although it’s pretty early to judge but United Sikkim is looking a tough side to beat. It now depends on the coach, Stanley Rosario as he has to be very meticulous in planning which players to sign as All India Football Federation has allowed only five players on Inter State Transfer and three more can be taken on loan. Hope the coach gets the right balance and gels the new signings with the players who he has already got, most of them are from Sikkim.

In the mean time the team has also registered itself as a company and henceforth in all the official documents it will be known as “United Sikkim Football Club Private Limited Company” and its main sponsor will be Camellia Group of Companies based in Kolkata with the sports equipment giants Nike supplying the kits.

United Sikkim FC2

United Sikkim FC2

I would also like to mention about the local players from Sikkim who are with United Sikkim. They are all good and with the right guidance they can soon become great. I was particularly impressed by their striker Tenzing Tsephel who was most consistent during the training sessions which I was watched and also scored a couple of excellent goals. Later I found out that he has already represented the Tibetan National Football Team and has also toured some European countries with the team.

Within a month’s time we will all find out where will United Sikkim land up but things are looking good at the moment and I wish they get promotion to the I-League Division one in their very first year.

To read more articles by Saurabh Rai click on the link below:

Three Star Club lifts the Aaha Gold Cup
United Sikkim- More than a Club!

*Disclaimer: The above article is a reproduction of the same article published on Saurabh’s blog lateybhakundo.blogspot.com.

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