Sunday, Jan 29, 2023 08:00 [IST]
Last Update: Sunday, Jan 29, 2023 02:27 [IST]
GANGTOK,: Thunderbolt North United FC are maintaining an intensified training programme as the club prepares for the inaugural Sikkim Premier League (SPL) 2023.
The sole club from North Sikkim in the SPL takes on Roaring Leopard FC from Pakyong district in their first match at Paljor Stadium on February 8.
“We have a good team with both senior players and upcoming talents. We are focusing on building an attacking team,” said Thunderbolt North United coach Shishil Karthak to SIKKIM EXPRESS.
Defender Sonam Zangpo Bhutia, midfielder Emphohang and winger Sukraj Rai provide valuable experience and nous to the team mostly composed of local players. There are three foreign players and four footballers from outside Sikkim in the squad.
D.T. Bhutia is the owner of Thunderbolt North United FC with Karma Loday Lepcha as co-owner and Sangay Ongda Bhutia as the chief coordinator. They formed the club to play in the franchise-based SPL due to their “passion towards football”.
The club chief coordinator shared that they came forward in the SPL to promote the talented players of the grassroots level and also to support the initiative of Chief Minister PS Golay to uplift the local players so they can reach to national and international levels. Most of the players in our club are from North Sikkim, he said.
“We have also invested in grassroots-level football by supporting the clubs and players in North Sikkim. We feel that our local footballers have rich potential to reach to international levels but it is important that they need some push,” said Bhutia.
Coach Karthak added that both the players and management are making hard efforts to give their best in the SPL. “Please come and support the only club from North Sikkim. We will not disappoint you, we will give our best in the field,” he said.
Regarding SPL, Karthak asserted that it was an excellent initiative for the local footballers. Such a big platform was needed by the local players, he said.
The SPL 2023 kicks-off on January 30 afternoon with the inaugural match against Aakraman SC and Sikkim Dragons FC at Paljor Stadium.
Shsil Karthak: we have senior players signed before me.. we have a good team with senior and juniors, players are good, young ma cha u-19 pani cha.. senior are there to motivate the youngsters… attacking team.. I am focusing on attacking game, training on this, forigeners we have three.. four outside from outside Sikkim
Emphohang, Zangpo, sukraj, Lhendup they have been playing here…
SPL is a new experiment: what u feel about? SPL is excellent I feel for the local players, such platform was needed by locals, seven in side plus u-19 player pani huncah.. this is an excellent initiative
We are making honest efforts, management is also diogn the same.. pls come and support the north team we will not disappoint you and show you with our good game
