Sikkim club enters soccer league

RAJEEV RAVIDAS, TT, 23 Nov 2018, Gangtok:The Sikkim Himalayan Sporting Club (SHSC) has become the first team from the state to qualify for the under-18 Youth League organised by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the governing body of soccer in the country.

A 28-member squad of the club will leave here for Imphal on Friday to take part in zonal round of the league. SHSC has been placed in the Shillong Guwahati zone and will lock horns with Aizwal FC, Neroca FC and one more club from Manipur.

The winner of the zonal round will qualify for the next stage of the league.

Puspha Gurung, one of the two coaches of the team, said his squad is well prepared and the mood is upbeat. "Our training sessions were held at the Paljor Stadium and Guards Ground, Tathangchen. We have prepared well and expecting good results," he said.

Pranay Subba is the other coach of the team and Sonam Dadul Denzongpa the team manager for the tournament.

The club will play its first match against the Manipur club on November 28, the second against Aizwal FC on No- vember 30 and against Neroca FC on December 2.

Gurung said the Youth League is important for the young players since it will provide a platform for them to showcase their talent. "It is important for them to perform well to further their nascent careers," he added.

The young players said they were looking forward to taking part in the tournament.

"All the players are excited and we want to play well. We want to return home on a winning note," said Nima Rinzing Sherpa, the central defender of the squad.

SHSC had also played in the second division I-League in the 2016-17 season. "We are now focused on developing home-grown talents and provide them opportunities to play at the national level. We want our Sikkimese talents to be visible at the national level from an early age," said Tenzing Lamtha, the founder of the club.

Menla Ethenpa, the president of the Sikkim Football Association, said the youth leagues are a breeding ground for clubs, and the participation of SHSC in the tournament will hold the club in good stead.

"The youth leagues were started by the AIFF to ensure steady supply of players to the senior teams. The AIFF has made it mandatory for ILeague clubs to have junior teams," he said..