Once a year during the months of October - November, my state (of Sikkim) hosts a football tournament to the delight of thousands of fans sitting in the galleries of the Paljor Stadium. The tournament sees the participation of a host of local teams as well as football teams of Nepal and even Nigeria, who were specially invited all the way last year.
Sikkim may be one of the few states of India where football, not cricket is the more popular sport where kids aspire to be the next Bhaichung Bhutia, even as Tendulkar continues to remain god to others. Even the government offices and schools close in the afternoons so that people can watch the games. The Governor’s Gold Cup remains to be the only topic of discussion during this time of the year in Gangtok.
Sometimes it so happens that a sore loser team gets so pissed with a winner team that they go and pick a fight with them and appallingly, bash them right in the middle of the football field. About two years back, one team got beaten up and sadly havent returned to the tournament till date.
I still remember last year’s final match. I got separated from my group due to the thronging crowd all over the place. After buying a really expensive ticket - read: best seats in the stadium - I ended up sitting on the stairs alone, next to the best seats which were all occupied yet went on to enjoy the game on my own as well as the rest of the screaming crowd.
Oh I hear the Governer’s gold cup is on! It really takes me back to the school days when the school timings were squeezed to suit the match timings. I rem how I used to rush for most of the matches!
Been wanting to watch a match in the new renovated European looking stadium - but damn no such luck! grrrrr.
Nepal vs Nepal for the finals this time. One Nepal team won. I couldnt watch sadly.