SIKKIM HIMALAYAN SC SECURED AIFF ACCREDITATION

Sikkim Himalayan SC has secured AIFF accreditation thus opening doors for progressive grooming of local football talents from 5 years of age onwards at the national level.

However, the sustainability of the Sikkim Himalayan SC academy and the AIFF platform would depend on generous support from the State government and football lovers of the State.

After conducting an inspection of the club facilities and history at Tathangchen  recently, the AIFF on June 6 sent an email confirming the accreditation of the Sikkim Himalayan SC academy by the national football federation. The 2-star rating allows the club to participate in the u-13, u-15 and u-18 I-League tournaments organised by the AIFF annually.

Sharing the achievement with the media here today, Sikkim Himalayan SC founding president Tenzin Lamtha said:  “Sikkim Himalayan SC is the first club academy in Sikkim to get the AIFF accreditation. This opens the doors for our talented football kids to get a national-level platform at every step of their teenage life. They would be now playing in the junior age leagues of the AIFF and such exposure will help them to grow progressively as a professional footballer. We feel that we are going in good direction to our founding goal of providing national platform to the football talents of Sikkim.”

Sikkim Himalayan SC is based in Guards Ground, Tathangchen. It has a senior squad which plays in Sikkim League A Division. There are 50 kids at the residential academy of the club who train daily under chief coach Pranay Subba and also attend their schools. Beside the hostel players, the academy also has members who do not stay at the hostel.

The club has already registered players both residential and non-residential in the different age groups tournaments of the AIFF scheduled later this year. Venues have not been finalised for the u-13, u-15 and u-18 I-League tournaments.

Academies and junior teams of reputed clubs including those from I-League and ISL take part in these junior leagues. Talents are spotted at such tournaments and roped in by the clubs for further advancement.

Lamtha shared that present Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri was spotted first in a u-15 tournament which helped him to develop as one of the iconic footballers of the country.

“Our kids are also blessed with talent and playing in the junior leagues of AIFF would go a long way in help them to grow as a fine footballer. It could also help them to get spotted by big clubs and taken under their fold,” he said.

Lamtha was joined by Sikkim Himalayan SC president Yower Lepcha and executive member R.K. Pradhan in the press meet.