Sikkim 1ST Grameen Football Gaurav Award to Tamang Footballer

Prashant Tamang conferred with Grameen Football Gaurav Award

15 year old, Prashant Tamang from Legship, West Sikkim has become the 1st recipient of the ‘Grameen Football Gaurav Award’, in the State. Tamang, whose football skills impressed everyone during the 2nd Division S- League, was today conferred with the said award amidst a function organized by Sikkim Express in collaboration with Videocon d2h in the capital. The Videocon d2h will now be sponsoring Tamang’s education and footballing career. Born to late Dawa Tamang (father) and Reena Tamang (mother), the 15 year old joined the Gram Vikash Sangathan Football Academy in Central Pendam and plays as a defender for the Academy at present. He is presently studying at class X in Central Senior Secondary School. “The Academy provided me great support, it is just because of it I stand tall here” said Tamang. He also thanked the Videocon d2h for recognizing him and honoring him with the award. CEO, United Sikkim Football Club Bhaichung Bhutia who chaired the day as the chief guest congratulated Tamang for receiving the award and advised him to further polish his footballing skills for bigger platform in the days to come. Bhutia also invited him to join the training sessions of the USFC so that he can learn something from it. He also announced that the Gram Vikash Football Sangathan will be sponsored with Nike football kits. “The ‘Grameen Football Gaurav’ award shall definitely boost the young footballers in the State ultimately leading them to professionalism”, expressed Bhutia. He also assured of making his club the topmost football club of India by next2-3 years. “The club will be superior to that of the clubs operating in Manipur and Punjab in days to come,” claimed Bhutia. In this parlance he said that at least 27-28 good quality players are a must for the club and they will be basically the locals, he said. Further, he said that the State Government has been doing commendable job for the sportsmen in the State. Platforms have been created and jobs have been provided to those, which inculcates a positive vibe among them and the coming generation.

Editor, Sikkim Express, Amit Patro in his address said that the award is for those who remain unsung in the villages though they have the capability and talent in football. The ‘Grameen Football Gaurav’ should not be understood as an award but rather as encouragement to the promising rural footballers who are the torchbearers of tomorrow, he added.
The ‘Grameen Football Gaurav Award’ consists of a citation, Videocon d2h set and free subscription to all the televisions channels. The awardee will be sponsored for the life time in their footballing career by Videocon.
President of Gram Vikash Sangathan Football Academy, Ambika Pokhrel accompanied by the other members expressed their satisfaction and congratulated the initiative taken by Videocon d2h. Pokhrel has also hoped and requested Bhutia to take out time to visit their academy in the days to come.