The Guwahati Sports Association (GSA) has entered into an agreement with the Indian Super League (ISL) club, NorthEast United FC (NEUFC), to organize a series of age-group football leagues, including Youth and Kids Leagues, in Guwahati. The formal signing of this agreement occurred on October 16 at the Gauhati Town Club auditorium.
Under this collaboration, GSA will conduct leagues for various age groups, ranging from Under-7 to Under-17. These tournaments are aimed at nurturing young talent and providing them with opportunities to pursue their football dreams on the field. Additionally, if girls’ teams participate, these age-specific tournaments will include them as well.
One of the key highlights of GSA’s sports initiatives is the Guwahati Premier Football League (GPFL). This high-stakes tournament will witness the participation of 14 office teams, along with the top two clubs from Guwahati A Division. With a total prize money of Rs 30 lakh, the GPFL promises to elevate the excitement of football enthusiasts. The GPFL is scheduled to kick off on December 1 and run until January 12, 2024.
In addition to football, GSA is expanding its offerings to cricket with the Pride Cup Club Cricket Tournament, held in partnership with TCM. This cricket extravaganza will bring together the top 8 cricket teams from Guwahati, competing at the picturesque Amingaon Cricket Ground, starting from November 10.
Devajit Saikia, the general secretary of GSA, expressed his enthusiasm about these developments and their potential to positively impact the city’s sports scene. He highlighted the GPFL’s efforts to make the league more engaging for football lovers in the state, with the participation of top office teams and local players.
The GPFL matches are scheduled to take place at the Judges’ Field.
Mandar Tamhane, the CEO of NEUFC, expressed his pride in the association with GSA, emphasizing the importance of nurturing the love for sports from a young age.
The GSA’s commitment to promoting sports at the grassroots level has garnered praise from NEUFC’s head coach, Juan Pedro Benali, who recognized the significance of providing young talents with a platform to develop their skills and passion for sports.
The unveiling of the logos for the Youth and Kids Leagues, GPFL, and Pride Cup marked this occasion, which saw the presence of NEUFC assistant coach Naushad Moosa, former badminton player Madhurjya Baruah, GSA president Paresh Ch Das, and NEUFC players Parthib Gogoi and Gaurav Bora.
