Trophy for hill Cup colours

A decorated street at Bara Kak Jhora in the Darjeeling hills that bagged the award

Vivek Chhetri, TT,  Jul 16, 2018: Darjeeling: In the "World Cup Town" of Darjeeling, BKJ (Bara Kak Jhora) United Club on Sunday lifted the "trophy" hours before the biggest football tournament's grand finale kicked off.

BKJ United Club bagged the prize for the most beautifully decorated Darjeeling area during the month-long Fifa carnival.

The Darjeeling North Point School Alumni Association (DNPSAA) handed over a replica of the Fifa World Cup to BKJ United Club.

"On June 2, we had organised an outreach programme to raise funds for a Father Van Memorial Clinic on Wheels. Thousands participated in the football parade where we had christened our hometown.

'The World Cup Town'. BKJ United Club has bagged the award," association chief Deven Gurung said. Father Van was a former rector of North Point.

During the event, which featured various entertainment shows, it had also been decided that the best decorated area with the World Cup theme in Darjeeling town would be awarded hours before the final begins in Moscow.

The team inspected several places like Aloobari, J.P. Sharma Path, Employment Exchange area, Nimki Dara, but found Bara Kak Jhora different.

"The place (Bara Kak Jhora) was not only beautifully decorated but was also unique in the sense that it was informative," Gurung said.

Apart from detailing the history of the World Cup and putting up theme works on "Pele to Platini, Zico to Ruud Gullit", the club had made a special display of Sunil Chhetri for being among the highest scores of international goals.

"We appreciate the fact that they had a corner for the '60's legendary players of Darjeeling' and put up photographs of famous footballers from the region like Chandan Singh Raut, who was part of the India's football team, Benu Subba, Avay Gurung, KrishDewan, Raju Rai, Kapil Thapa and Shyam Thapa. All of them have made us proud," said Gurung.

The St. Joseph's School alumni association announced that the ambulance, for the clinic on wheels, has been booked and will arrive soon. The vehicle, fitted with a slew of equipment, will be sent to remote areas for free medical check-ups.

Amitava Banerjee | MP | Darjeeling: Even before the biggest soccer battle took to the ground in Russia, miles away, the World Cup was handed over to Bara Kakjhora United Club in Darjeeling on Sunday afternoon.

As part of the "Darjeeling World Cup Town 2018," Darjeeling North Point School Alumni Association (DNPSAA) had announced that a World Cup replica would be handed over to the best decorated area of the town on the day of the finals.

"Places like Aloobari, J P Sharma Path (Pachpan Hatta), Employment Exchange area, Nimki Dara and others were well decorated. However, Bara Kak Jhora was not just decorated well but was done with a purpose. The uniqueness lay in the informative flexes that were put up," stated Deven Gurung, President of the DNPSAA.

The detailed history of the world cup including winners over the years; pictures and history of legendary football players; a special display of Sunil Chettri for his achievement in the intercontinental cup, matching the 64 international goals to that of Messi.

"However, the most touching display was on the legendary players of Darjeeling titled - 60's legendary players of Darjeeling. They had put up photographs of famous players like Chandan Singh Raut, Benu Subba, Avay Gurung, Krish Dewan, Raju Rai, Kapil Thapa, Shyam Thapa and others. Thus, we zeroed in on Bara Kakjhora United Club (BKUC)," stated Gurung.

The world cup replica was handed over to members of the BKUC in Darjeeling.

"It's our honest endeavor to educate Gen Y in Darjeeling about Darjeeling's rich football past. This land has created legends. The youth have heard of Messi but not of local legends. It is our effort to revive the rich football past by promoting local football," stated Yogesh Bomzan, member of the BKUC.

DNPSAA had organised the event "Darjeeling the World Cup Town 2018," to raise funds for the outreach program Fr Van Memorial Clinic on wheels. It was just a one-day event on 2nd June 2018. The event was very successful with thousands of people participating in the football parade followed by a variety entertainment programmes at Chowrasta.

The Clinic on Wheels will provide medical facilities in far flung areas, catering specially to the marginalised section of society.