Gangtok, Mar 2 : In a milestone for the resurgent football scenario in the hills, a Sikkim club has secured a berth in the second division of the ONGC I-League, slated this summer, where 23 clubs, including Mohammedan Sporting and Vasco SC, would be battling it out in Delhi, Bangalore and Tripura for entry into the I-League first division.
Denzong Boys' Club has been selected for the second division of the I-League, announced the club manager Zigme Lachungpa in a press conference here today.
This is the first time in the history of Sikkim football that a club from the state would be playing the I-League which is the top tier league in the Indian football system. It was started by the AIFF in 2007-08. The Dezong Boys' Club, which has been performing well in local and regional level, will be participating in the Agartala leg of the I-League starting from March 26 later this month. The Sikkim club is in group C.
Twenty-one teams will take part in the qualifying round and they have been divided into three groups. The top two teams from each group will meet in the final round along with Mohammedan Sporting and Vasco SC.
Denzong Boys' Club president Phruba Sherpa said the club would hold a camp at Paljor Stadium here from March five where talented players from Sikkim and neighboring Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills would participate. The final team would be selected from the camp, he said adding the team would not be limited to Sikkim only but would also be offering opportunities from talented players from the Darjeeling region also.
The club is also in touch with its Nigerian player Taurus Manneuh for the I-League.
''We have achieved the target of reaching the second division of I-League and we have now the objective of reaching the first division like Lajong FC of Shillong,'' Mr Sherpa said.
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