GANGTOK : The 3rd edition of the Serenity Cup Football Tournament 2017 will be kicked off on 23 November here at Paljor Stadium. The fortnight-long tournament is being organised by Gangtok-based rehab centre, Serenity Home with the support of other rehab centres of Gangtok.
Seven teams from Gangtok, Darjeeling and Siliguri have been participating in the tournament. The participating teams are the defending champion, Goodwill from Siliguri, UDAS Siliguri, Darjeeling Fellowship and Freedom Facility, United Brothers, Recovering Fellows and Serenity Homes from Gangtok.
Addressing a press conference here at Paljor Stadium conference hall on Friday, Serenity Home founder, Udai Rai stated that Serenity Cup football tournament is one of its kinds not only to provide a platform for healthy activities but also helping them to come into the mainstream. He said, “The main objective of the tournament is to celebrate the individual recovering and at the same time to send the right message to the society that addiction was just a disease and can be treated as many people living a good life after recovering.”
Rai stated every rehab centres have been facing the big challenge of follow up programmes to involve recovering members in productive ways. “So we have decided to try sports to involve them in sporting and healthy activities. Now, with the success of the tournament, recovering members have been practicing throughout the year for this tournament and staying in a team,” he added.
The organising committee advisor, Thupten Rapgyal mentioned that the tournament would be played in league-cum-knock out format with 35 minutes in each half. The teams have been divided into two groups for league stage. The organisers have also been working to present cash prizes to winning and runner-up teams.
Freedom Facility founder, KC Nima stated the tournament has made a huge impact to keep recovering members in productive and sporting activities. He also appreciated the efforts of Serenity Home for provided such big platform to them.