Silchar, Oct 28: Football fans in Barak Valley are excited about the upcoming Captain NM Gupta Memorial Football Tournament, set to take place from November 4 to 11. This year’s event marks the tournament’s return after a six-year break, with the last competition held in 2018, where Army Green Bengaluru narrowly defeated the Mizoram Football team 1-0 to win the title.
Organized by the District Sports Association (DSA), the tournament will continue its legacy, which started in 1962, and will feature six teams competing for the prestigious trophy. Among the participants is Senapati FC from Manipur, alongside North East United FC, Raeangdai FC (Manipur), Aizawl FC, Mohammedan SC (Kolkata), and Lenruol FC, divided into two groups.
This year, the winning team will receive a trophy and a cash prize of ₹1 lakh, while the runners-up will be awarded ₹50,000 and a trophy. Additionally, the tournament will honor the best player with a prize of ₹5,000, and each match will have a Player of the Match award.
The opening match will see Lenruol FC go up against Raeangdai FC at the SM Dev Stadium. All matches will follow the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) rules and will be managed by the Assam Football Association (AFA).
Silchar MLA Dipayan Chakraborty expressed his excitement about the tournament’s legacy. He emphasized the efforts made by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to enhance sports and infrastructure in the region, urging stakeholders to fully support this important event.
Shiba Brata Dutta, president of the Silchar DSA and vice chairman of the organizing committee, reiterated their commitment to reviving this national-level tournament, which has enjoyed great success in the past. He highlighted the attractive prize money as a testament to their dedication to maintaining the tournament’s prestige. Atanu Bhattacharjee, general secretary of DSA Silchar and convener of the tournament, noted that the organizing committee is chaired by former Silchar MP Dr. Rajdeep Roy, with legislator Chakraborty serving as the working chairman.
As the tournament date approaches, anticipation grows for Senapati FC’s performance and their bid for the title.
