Tenzin Dhedhen
Update October 2- organizers just informed us that the Final match will be played on October 6 instead of scheduled October 7. With most of the local residents gone for their winter business, monks form the majority of the spectators for these games. The monasteries have an important religious event on October 7, therefore the final will be played on October 6 to enable as many monks as possible to watch the final.
Dharamshala, September 29 – The 14th Gyalyum Chenmo Memorial Gold Cup football tournament kicked off today at Doeguling Tibetan settlement, Mungod. Presiding over the opening ceremony as the chief guest was Ling Rinpoche, the reincarnation of the senior tutor of the Dalai Lama. Also present at the ceremony was Drubgyue Rinpoche and Dawa Tsering, MP of Tibetan Parliament in Exile.
The tournament is being played on a new football field specially prepared for this year’s GCM Cup. Monks, school children and local residents thronged the ground located at village no. 7 today to witness the first ever Tibetan football tournament in south India.
Kalsang Dhondup, manager of the Tibetan National Football Association, told phayul on phone that Drubgyue Rinpoche of the Kagyu monastery at village no.7 has financed the construction and preparation of the football field and that he is grateful to Rinpoche. “The Tibetan Representative, members of Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, Regional Tibetan Women’s Association, village heads (gyakpons) of the nine villages, treasurers (Chagzoed) of Gaden and Drepung monasteries have extended all possible assistance to us in organizing this sporting event here in Mungod, and I thank everyone for their support on my association’s behalf,” said Kalsang .
The opening match played between TCV United & Bylakuppe FC ended with a score of 2-1 in favor of TCV United.
11 teams from India and Nepal will compete for the Gold Cup in memory of the Dalai Lama’s ‘Great Mother’. The final will be played on October 6, 2008.
Check our website for daily fixtures and scores
