Historic Durand Cup debut inspires 1 Ladakh FC top brass to initiate corporate sponsorship and a tie-up with Chelsea Foundation
Sudeep Pakrashi: Despite the historic debut of 1Ladakh FC in the recently-concluded Durand Cup, Ladakh’s only professional football club had to stop its football functioning temporarily, after the tournament. The reason was dire financial distress. The club obtained financial aid from the government and Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council to participate in the Blub Riband tournament. Still, it was not easy for the club’s top brass to carry on with the expenses, spent for the team as several out-stationed footballers and former Chennaiyin FC coach Rajan Mani. 1 Ladakh FC had an impressive 1-1 draw against the Nepalese team, Tribhuvan Army, in their opener. Then the team lost to Jamshedpur FC and the Indian Army, but demonstrated an inspiring show in both the group league matches. So, as an aftermath of the experience club’s top brass gained from participating in the Durand Cup, 1 Ladakh FC’s top brass has begun initiating a corporate sponsorship to strengthen the club’s financial structure. It is believed that international sportswear brand Puma has expressed a desire to join 1Ladakh FC as one of the main sponsors. Simultaneously, the Ladakh Football Association organized a ‘Climate Summit’ along with its annual competition, Climate Cup, last year. The summit helped the 1 Ladakh FC top brass to start a discussion with the Chelsea Foundation regarding an association with 1 Ladakh FC on the youth development program and coaches’ education program. 1 Lakhadh FC management is reportedly going to London to make an official tie-up with the Chelsea Foundation. Significantly, 1 Ladakh FC’s one of the owners, Tsering Angmo revealed that the team are all set to enter the I-League this season, participating in the Third Division of the League. “Playing in the Durand Cup was a huge experience for not only the team but also for us. We are grateful to the Indian Army for allowing us to play in the historic tournament. We also learned how to conduct such a big tournament as the Durand Cup. We have been inspired a lot, and now our aim is to play in the Third Division I-League this year. Our state league will take place after March, and the state league champion will be entitled to participate in the I-League-3 also.” Angmo, who is also the secretary of Ladakh FA, is planning to introduce a long-term women’s football coaching program this year. When asked about her plans, she explained, “Initially, the coaching program with the girls will take off through a non-residential coaching program with around 30 potential girls. Then we will materialize it by launching a residential football school for both boys and girls at Leh.”
A unique initiative from 1 Ladakh FC: The first-ever ‘Football-Under-the-Stars’ likely to come up this year!
Sudeep Pakrashi: Hanle is historic and popular for being the home of the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO)-the third-highest optical observatory in the world. The valley in the Changthang district of Ladakh, which is nearly 15,000 feet above sea level, is going to witness a surprise this year that will add to its attractiveness. 1 Ladakh FC, the only professional football club in Ladakh, is in the process of organizing a two-day football tournament in Hanle, and the uniqueness of the competition is that it will happen under a full moon, with no floodlights to be used! The competition has been named ‘Football-Under-the-stars’. A football tournament under the full moon is not generally seen. Only futsal football tournaments in the Maldives and Hong Kong under the full moon are held, and this will be the third football tournament in the world under the stars. According to plans so far, 1 Ladakh FC is trying to rope in four teams from outside the country for the tournament, which will be a seven-a-side competition at the Indian army’s ground in Hanle. Tsering Angmo, the club’s director, when contacted to know about the tournament, revealed, “During the Climate Cup football knock-out competition last year, a climate-summit also took place in Ladakh. A few people associated with a few teams from England were present at the summit. During the summit, we thought of introducing the ‘Football-under-the Stars’ tournament. But hosting a competition at Hanle is tough due to its altitude. We are grateful to the Indian Army for their infrastructural support, and the Ladakh Football Association (LFA) also. Efforts are on to stage the tournament in July-August.” Meanwhile, LFA is the country’s first state football association, which is likely to make an official association with Bengaluru FC. Angmo, also the secretary of LFA, explained, “The tie-up has not yet been made. But talks are on. The tie-up will be on the grass-route development program. Due to the extreme cold in Ladakh, we do not get the full season to run our training program. That is the key reason behind our initiative to join hands with Bengaluru FC. Once it is materialized, our kids will be able to undergo a long-term training program in Bengaluru, under the club’s youth development coaches.” However, the four-team Climate Cup in Ladakh is likely to see the addition of two more outstation teams participating in the knock-out tournament this year. Bengaluru FC and Inter Kashi have already confirmed their participation in the Climate Cup.
