A 20-member Sikkim U-14 boys’ team is all set to represent the State in the East Zone Qualifying round of Junior National Football Championship 2019.
The championship will be held at Bokaro in Jharkhand.
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The team will be leaving for the championship on Monday.
Sikkim has been placed in Group B along with Odhisha and Sports Authority of India in the East Zone Qualifying Round, which is being organized by All India Football Federation.
Sikkim will take on Odisha in in its first qualifying match on 04 September and then second match against SAI on 06 September. Similarly, Group ‘A’ has West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Jharkhand.
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The state team members are Nima Tshering Tamang, Karma Tseten Tashi Senga, Sahil Darnal, Pritam Sharma, Sujal Chhetri, Sangam Rai, Sakmer Lepcha, Sumit Pradhan, Ajay Tamang, Aareum Sawo Lepcha, Rohit Chhetri, Yesh Basnett, Aaditya Sharma, Rohan Rai, Chewang Dorjee Lepcha, Adarsh Giri, Sunil Limboo, Kabul Pradhan and Sanjay Rai.
The team would be accompanied by AFC ‘C’ License Coach, Anil Tamang as team coach and Alpan Lepcha as team manager.
Speaking to team members here at Paljor Stadium on Sunday, Sikkim Football Association (SFA) president, Menla Ethenpa expressed his best wishes to the team members and encouraged them to give their best to get through to the final round.
He stressed upon the need to maintain a good discipline to keep a good name of Sikkim.
He mentioned that it was a big exposure and platform for footballers to showcase the talent.
He encouraged young footballers to display their best game to impress AIFF selectors to make a place in the national team and to go to the higher level.
Ethenpa also mentioned that the State team has been consisted of players from all corners of the State.
He mentioned that SFA has also organized a week-long camp for the State team members at Paljor Stadium.
Team coach, Tamang stated that the State team members have undergone through a rigorous training and were in the good form to give their best in the qualifying round.
Likewise, joint secretary, Arjun Rai, chief coordinator, Phurba Sherpa and vice-president, Chewang Paul Sangderpa of Sikkim Football Association expressed their best wishes to the state team members.