DHARAMSHALA, October 5: In a dream finish to the 17th Gyalyum Chenmo Memorial Gold Cup (GCMGC), the dark horse of the tournament Gulladhalla FC from Bylakuppe beat defending champions Dhondupling FC from Clemen Town in a penalty shootout yesterday in the finals.
After many missed chances and a show of disciplined defence tactics by both the teams, the match went goalless in the stipulated 90 minutes of play, pushing the match into extra time. Players from both teams fought hard to get an edge over the other in the 20 minutes of additional play but failed to net the ball.
The large crowd at the Mundgod football ground were in for a huge treat as the teams squared up for a penalty shoot out.
Five players each from the two teams lined up to take their best shot and in the end Gulladhalla FC held their nerves and won the tournament with a final score of 1 – 0.
Ogyen Tsering, captain of Gulladhalla FC deservingly lifted the 17th GCM Gold Cup as the crowd shouted their team slogan, “Gulla, gulla, Gullathala, Goals”.
A prize money of Rs 50,000/- was handed over to the winning team by long time Tibet supporter Aasha Reddy, who had sponsored the prize money last year as well.
Phuntsokling FC from Orissa was awarded the best disciplined team of the tournament.
The annual tournament which began September 26 in the Tibetan settlement of Mundgod was widely received by football fans and sports enthusiasts from all over India.
Speaking of the final match, a spectator wrote on a networking site that it was the “toughest match” she has ever come across.
“Both teams played so well. Loved the game and I am going to miss the GCM more than our losar,” said Tsering Lhamo, a football fan.
Kalsang Dhondup, executive secretary of Tibetan National Sports Association (TNSA), organisers of the tournament, speaking at the closing ceremony thanked members of the Doeguling Youth and Sports Association and the governmental and nongovernmental organisations in Mundgod for their support and help.
The GCMGC is the most popular football tournament in the exile Tibetan community. It was initially organised in 1981 as a “club level tournament in memory of the late mother of the XIVth Dalai Lama.”
