The annual football tournament that has brought to light talents like Baichung Bhutia is back again this year, and the Gen. Secy of the Sikkim FA, Mr. Menla Ethenpa, spoke at length to Goal.com on the event, and football in general...
1) Hello and thank you for taking time out for Goal.com sir. Could you please tell us and our readers about the Governor’s Gold Cup?
Sure. The All India Governor’s Gold Cup is an annual football tournament that is held in Gangtok, and has been so for the last thirty years. Among the AIFF sanctioned tournaments, this has the record for being the longest uninterrupted tournament, right from its inception in 1978. Apart from Indian club teams, teams from Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal also take part regularly, which is why we sometimes call the tournament a “Mini SAFF Games”.
2) How is the tournament’s 30th edition shaping up?
It’s just around the corner now, and we’re looking forward to it immensely. It kicks off on 14th October with Sikkim’s Governor Balmiki Prasad Singh being the Chief Guest, and our Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling being present as the Guest of Honour. We have 16 teams for the cup as usual, which include National XI’s from Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, along with Indian sides such as New Delhi Heroes, Punjab Police, and the Tata Football Academy XI. Baichung Bhutia’s club, Sikkim United, will also be taking part. The tournament will be held in a knock out format, at the Paljor Stadium in Gangtok, culminating in the final on 25th October.
3) The absence of the I-League teams must have hurt your plans?
Yes it has. Past winners of the tournament include teams like Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, but since the advent of the I-League, it’s difficult for the top teams to be released for tournaments such as these, making it mandatory for us to look for teams elsewhere. However, tickets are still selling as much as before, and we’re confident that the event will be a success like it has been every year.
4) You spoke of the people coming to watch the games. What has been the turnout for the cup over the years?
Football is in the blood of the people of Sikkim, as everyone knows. We have huge turnouts each year for the games, with the turnout reaching up to 35000 spectators at once. The people see the tournament as a festival which lasts for a couple of weeks, and enjoy it thoroughly. Due to the hilly terrain and the climate in the state, we can hold the tournament only during a limited span in October, or April, so the people flock to the ground in large numbers each year.
5) What are the playing conditions like at the Paljor Stadium at the moment?
The stadium is in good condition, as it was revamped only two years ago and inaugurated by Mr.APJ Abdul Kalam. The 30000 capacity is also more than sufficient for the Sikkim crowds, and we hope to fill it up completely during the tournament. The ground will also host the matches for the “Manchester United Premier Championship”, a competition where U-15 club sides from all over India compete in order to gain the chance to go to Manchester and compete with the Red Devils’ side themselves. The Paljor Stadium will host all the matches for the East and Northeast zone.
6) Besides entertaining the people, what would you see as the contribution of this tournament to Indian football?
Players! In fact, the current Indian skipper, Baichung Bhutia, was first spotted at one of these games itself. Even Nirmal Chhetri was picked up by Air India after they saw him at this tournament, just like many others. There are about a dozen Sikkimese players playing in the national leagues at the moment, and the AFC Cup winning squad had seven players from the Northeast. So, I would see this event as a stepping stone to greater success for a number of young players.
7) Could you tell us about the FIFA Goal Project II, which has chosen Sikkim among other places to invest in?
Yes, they have chosen to Invest Rs.1 Crore in Sikkim, and all the paperwork has been completed. We are planning to use half of the money is developing a brand new football turf, which will be of international standards, and the other half will go towards building a new training centre for budding footballers in the region. Hopefully the work should start early next year.
8) Who finances the tournament except the Sikkim FA? Is the AIFF involved too?
In fact, we need to pay the AIFF to hold the event! That is, we need to pay them a registration fee for the tournament. The AIFF too has started receiving sponsorship only recently, and state level investment may take time. And otherwise too, there are no corporate houses who have invested in this event over the years. Sikkim doesn’t have any major industries here, so big companies refrain from sponsoring events in the region.
The Sikkim FA has been organizing the tournament each year without any sponsorship. We also organize other club events around the year, including women’s football events. In fact, we are planning to stage a national level women’s club tournament next year, and maybe go international the year after that.
9) How important is Baichung to the tournament?
Him being the icon of the state, and of football all over India, his name attracts a lot of people to the event. It helps in raising awareness of the cup and creates the much needed hype as well. Even though he wont be playing, his club will be taking part in the event, and we hope they’ll put up a good show in front of their home fans.
10) Any plans of expanding the tournament in the future, or shifting the event in order to allow I-League teams to take part?
Actually, we do plan to bring in teams from Southeast Asia, and one club from Thailand was to come this year, but had to drop out at the last moment. In the past, clubs from Thailand and Malaysia have taken part, and we will continue to invite them every year. As far as the dates of the tournament are concerned, we are giving it a serious thought. We would definitely like the I-League teams to be part of this huge Sikkimese event, and if possible, we will shift the dates in the future to accommodate them.
Mr. Ethenpa, thanks once again for speaking with Goal.com, and we all hope the Governor’s Gold Cup is a huge success once more this year, and throws up a few more exciting names who can light up India’s footballing future!
It has been a pleasure, and we hope so too!
Source:Goal.com
1) Hello and thank you for taking time out for Goal.com sir. Could you please tell us and our readers about the Governor’s Gold Cup?
Sure. The All India Governor’s Gold Cup is an annual football tournament that is held in Gangtok, and has been so for the last thirty years. Among the AIFF sanctioned tournaments, this has the record for being the longest uninterrupted tournament, right from its inception in 1978. Apart from Indian club teams, teams from Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal also take part regularly, which is why we sometimes call the tournament a “Mini SAFF Games”.
2) How is the tournament’s 30th edition shaping up?
It’s just around the corner now, and we’re looking forward to it immensely. It kicks off on 14th October with Sikkim’s Governor Balmiki Prasad Singh being the Chief Guest, and our Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling being present as the Guest of Honour. We have 16 teams for the cup as usual, which include National XI’s from Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, along with Indian sides such as New Delhi Heroes, Punjab Police, and the Tata Football Academy XI. Baichung Bhutia’s club, Sikkim United, will also be taking part. The tournament will be held in a knock out format, at the Paljor Stadium in Gangtok, culminating in the final on 25th October.
3) The absence of the I-League teams must have hurt your plans?
Yes it has. Past winners of the tournament include teams like Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, but since the advent of the I-League, it’s difficult for the top teams to be released for tournaments such as these, making it mandatory for us to look for teams elsewhere. However, tickets are still selling as much as before, and we’re confident that the event will be a success like it has been every year.
4) You spoke of the people coming to watch the games. What has been the turnout for the cup over the years?
Football is in the blood of the people of Sikkim, as everyone knows. We have huge turnouts each year for the games, with the turnout reaching up to 35000 spectators at once. The people see the tournament as a festival which lasts for a couple of weeks, and enjoy it thoroughly. Due to the hilly terrain and the climate in the state, we can hold the tournament only during a limited span in October, or April, so the people flock to the ground in large numbers each year.
5) What are the playing conditions like at the Paljor Stadium at the moment?
The stadium is in good condition, as it was revamped only two years ago and inaugurated by Mr.APJ Abdul Kalam. The 30000 capacity is also more than sufficient for the Sikkim crowds, and we hope to fill it up completely during the tournament. The ground will also host the matches for the “Manchester United Premier Championship”, a competition where U-15 club sides from all over India compete in order to gain the chance to go to Manchester and compete with the Red Devils’ side themselves. The Paljor Stadium will host all the matches for the East and Northeast zone.
6) Besides entertaining the people, what would you see as the contribution of this tournament to Indian football?
Players! In fact, the current Indian skipper, Baichung Bhutia, was first spotted at one of these games itself. Even Nirmal Chhetri was picked up by Air India after they saw him at this tournament, just like many others. There are about a dozen Sikkimese players playing in the national leagues at the moment, and the AFC Cup winning squad had seven players from the Northeast. So, I would see this event as a stepping stone to greater success for a number of young players.
7) Could you tell us about the FIFA Goal Project II, which has chosen Sikkim among other places to invest in?
Yes, they have chosen to Invest Rs.1 Crore in Sikkim, and all the paperwork has been completed. We are planning to use half of the money is developing a brand new football turf, which will be of international standards, and the other half will go towards building a new training centre for budding footballers in the region. Hopefully the work should start early next year.
8) Who finances the tournament except the Sikkim FA? Is the AIFF involved too?
In fact, we need to pay the AIFF to hold the event! That is, we need to pay them a registration fee for the tournament. The AIFF too has started receiving sponsorship only recently, and state level investment may take time. And otherwise too, there are no corporate houses who have invested in this event over the years. Sikkim doesn’t have any major industries here, so big companies refrain from sponsoring events in the region.
The Sikkim FA has been organizing the tournament each year without any sponsorship. We also organize other club events around the year, including women’s football events. In fact, we are planning to stage a national level women’s club tournament next year, and maybe go international the year after that.
9) How important is Baichung to the tournament?
Him being the icon of the state, and of football all over India, his name attracts a lot of people to the event. It helps in raising awareness of the cup and creates the much needed hype as well. Even though he wont be playing, his club will be taking part in the event, and we hope they’ll put up a good show in front of their home fans.
10) Any plans of expanding the tournament in the future, or shifting the event in order to allow I-League teams to take part?
Actually, we do plan to bring in teams from Southeast Asia, and one club from Thailand was to come this year, but had to drop out at the last moment. In the past, clubs from Thailand and Malaysia have taken part, and we will continue to invite them every year. As far as the dates of the tournament are concerned, we are giving it a serious thought. We would definitely like the I-League teams to be part of this huge Sikkimese event, and if possible, we will shift the dates in the future to accommodate them.
Mr. Ethenpa, thanks once again for speaking with Goal.com, and we all hope the Governor’s Gold Cup is a huge success once more this year, and throws up a few more exciting names who can light up India’s footballing future!
It has been a pleasure, and we hope so too!
Source:Goal.com
