by Tenzin Phende
Dharamsala, June 10: The most awaited final game of this year’s Gyalyum Chenmo Memorial Gold Cup kicked off yesterday at 3:00pm local time here.
The match was played between Potala FC of Mundgod and football club of Tibetan Students’ Association of Madras (from Chennai).
Although the overall match went smoothly well, two players, one each from both the teams, were sent out of the game after facing red card, leaving the teams for the greater part of the match with only eight players each.
The opening goal of the match came from TSAM FC’s striker Tenzin Samphel at its 26th minute. Another goal was added shortly after, giving TSAM a confident lead before Potala FC of Mundgod scored a goal towards the last minutes of the first half.
Minutes into the second half, the first red card was issued to a Potala FC’s defender after he tackled Samphel of Madras before making a major move towards the goal post. But Potala FC demonstrated a major comeback dominating most part of the second half.
Almost half way into the second half, a direct hand throw from Potala FC right into the goal post slipped past the opponent’s goal keeper to give an equaliser. A desperate and faulty attempt by a Madras defender to stop the goal earned him the second red card of the match.
Another successive goal from Potala FC minutes later sent their hugely crowded fans roaring and cheering until Madras’ Samphel returned another exciting equaliser just a couple of minutes before the final whistle from the referee taking the game into extra time.
A confusing goal in the first extra half of the match gave Potala FC its final and winning score. Despite struggling efforts from Madras players, the Potala players maintained its dominance on the field.
The crowd, however, kept cheering TSAM admiring the team for its spirited performance.
Tenzin Samphel, who scored 16 of the 22 goals of Madras FC in its four matches through the tournament proved the most promising star of the 15th GCM tournament and the highest scorer of the season.
An official from Tibetan National Sports Association (TNSA), which organises the GCM and manages the Tibetan National Football Team, told Phayul.com that Samphel was one of the spotted players for the national team. This young talented player is currently pursuing a degree in “football specialist’ in Gwalior.
The event’s chief guest Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, the Prime Minister of the Tibet’s Government in exile, gave away the cup and medals to the teams.
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Highlights of GCM 2009
• 19 teams played in the 15th GCM
• Madras FC and Potala FC played the most matches
• Maximum score in a single match: Kham Khartok FC (Sataun)-1, TSAM FC- 10
• TIPA FC and Chauntra United disqualified in the quarter final
• Mundgod FC directly entered final
• Tenzin Samphel of TSAM FC scored 16 goals, the highest scorer of the season
• Potala FC of Mundgod wins GCM Cup 2009 for the second time
The writer is a second year BA journalism students from Madras Christian
College currently on internship at Phayul.com
