SUMMIT REPORT, Gangtok 23 Mar:
Football Development Private Limited [FDPL], the promoters of Sikkim Premier League, and Sikkim Football Association [SFA] signed a memorandum of understanding [MoU] for Sikkim Premier League on Sunday.
As per the MoU, SFA will provide technical support and help in addressing required technical relaxations mandated by the All India Football Federation in organising the Sikkim Premier League for next three years.
As per the MoU, it has been mutually agreed that the Sikkim Premier League title ownership is a property of the Government of Sikkim with FDPL as the franchise-based league promoters. Both the SFA and FDPL have agreed to work jointly for promotion and development of football and football tournaments.
Sikkim Premier League is the first franchise-based football league in Sikkim. The FDPL has been organising Sikkim Premier League under the aegis of Sports & Youth Affairs Department, Government of Sikkim since past two years and the third edition is expected to start soon.
Addressing a press conference here this afternoon, FDPL director Nirmal Chettri mentioned that this MoU between FDPL and SFA was for the further promotion of Sikkim football and betterment and welfare of local footballers of Sikkim.
He added that this agreement has been signed after a series of five meetings between directors of FDPL and executive members of SFA on various pertaining issues. He said the objective of this agreement is to make the SPL bigger and better and to provide maximum benefit to local footballers. He mentioned that FDPL was the promoter of SPL and now the sole owner of this league was the Government of Sikkim and SFA would provide all technical and other required support to the league.
SFA general secretary Phurba Sherpa mentioned that both organisations have come together for the betterment of Sikkim football after sorting out all pertaining issues. He said the SFA would provide technical and other required support now to SPL. He added that the SFA would help to seek relaxations in some required rules and regulations for the next three years. He said both organisations now would again sit together to draw rules and regulations for the SPL season 3, which will be started very soon.
Mr Sherpa mentioned that the SFA would also give entry to the champion of SPL in the All India Governor’s Gold Cup Football Tournament, All India Chief Minister’s Gold Cup Football Tournament and Independence Day Football Tournament for Chogyal Sir Tashi Namgyal Memorial Cup.
He added that the SFA has also decided to send the winner of the league to the inter-club league proposed by North East Football Development Council [NEFDC] for the north east region. He added that the SFA has also given relaxation in the regulation of Centralised Registration System [CRS] and Competition Management System [CMS] and in allowing foreign players in the league. Centralised Registration System used by the All India Football Federation to manage player registrations and transfers, while Competition Management System used for managing football competitions.
