Franchise-based football league is all set to kick off in Sikkim in mid-January next year with the launch of the Sikkim Premier League (SPL) by Football Development Pvt Ltd, a company formed by a group of recently-retired national-level soccer players.
The two-month-long league will feature eight teams — one each from Soreng (Singling FC), Pakyong (Pakyong District FC), Mangan (Vajra North United FC) and Gyalshing (Brothers FC) districts; and two teams each from Gangtok (Akraman FC and Sikkim Dragons FC) and Namchi (Sinalchu FC and Red Panda FC) districts.
“The league will start in mid-January and continue for two months. It is a weekend league where all matches will be played on Saturdays and Sundays. Some will also be night matches,” said Nirmal Chettri, a former India player and a member of the board of directors of Football Development, adding that the Paljor Stadium in Gangtok and the Bhaichung Bhutia Stadium in Namchi would be the two SPL venues.
The organisers have selected a group of 30 players who are plying their trade in different parts of the country, from whom the eight teams will be allowed to draft their players.
“A team can only have four players from outside the state and three foreigners. All under-19 players of the teams should be locals,” said Nirmal.
Nirmal said the SPL was being started in a bid to improve the overall standard of football in the state with the motto of “Together for Sikkim football”.
“The mission is to provide an entertaining and high-quality football league that engages football lovers of Sikkim, drives the improvement of the players’ standards and develops the culture of professionalism in players,” he said.
The renovated Paljor Stadium in Gangtok. The stadium will be one of the venues of the Sikkim Premier League
The government of Sikkim will be the principal sponsor of the first edition of the league and Teesta Urja Limited its co-sponsor.
“The winner will be awarded Rs 10 lakh and the runner-up Rs 5 lakh. The two semifinalists will be given Rs 2.5 lakh each,” said Sanju Pradhan, another ex-India player and a board member.
Sanju said apart from the SPL, plans were also afoot to start a similar league for women with six teams. “We will also work for grassroots development by holding weekend and winter camps. We will select 25-30 players from the SPL and form a team which will play friendly matches with ISL and I-League teams during their pre-season,” he said.
Dwelling on the plans of their company, Sanju said introducing the annual Sikkim Football Awards to recognise current footballers and honour the contributions of former players was one of them. “Our main aim is to hold a knockout tournament for the league champions of all eight north-eastern teams,” he said.
Sikkim chief minister P. S. Tamang (Golay), who unveiled the logo of the SPL at his residence in Gangtok on Sunday, said the new league was not just a tournament but a platform and a career-oriented avenue for youngsters to strive and prosper.
“Our government aims to boost and encourage people to embrace sports as a profession and motivate the youth,” he added.