Lokendra Football Academy to represent Sikkim at International Youth Tournament in Shillong

GEYZING, : Lokendra Football Academy (LFA) from Yangtey, Gyalshing, will represent Sikkim at the Shillong International Youth Football Tournament, scheduled from January 12 to 17 at Naugram Football Ground, Shillong. The team is set to leave on Friday.

Founded in 2019, LFA focuses on developing grassroots football, especially among children from rural and remote areas of West Sikkim. The academy will compete in the Under-15 category, where teams from different regions, including players from Bhaichung Bhutia Football Academy, will take part.

Soreng District football coach Michael Lepcha from the State Sports department said the team was selected after receiving an invitation from the Shillong International Youth Club. He said the aim was to give village players a chance to compete at a higher level.

“Trials were held on November 22 and 23 at Sombaria Ground, followed by a one-month winter residential camp. This tournament will help the players gain valuable experience,” he said.

A total of 104 players from various age groups took part in the trials. After shortlisting 50 players, 18 players were finally selected for the tournament. Most of them are from rural areas, including nine players from Yangtey village under the Daramdin constituency.

LFA founder Lokendra Gurung said starting the academy was his long-time dream. “I could not do much as a player myself, though I was associated with Namchi Sports Academy. Coach Michael Lepcha was my senior. When he joined the Sports Department, I decided to work independently and started this academy in 2019,” he said.

Gurung added that the academy has always focused on grassroots development. He shared that the Chief Minister had supported him earlier as Sports minister and continues to support the academy even now. He also mentioned that several LFA players have been shortlisted at the national level, with some selected for Sikkim’s Under-17 team.

“This Shillong tournament is mainly for exposure. We want these boys to move on to bigger clubs and better academies. This is our first registered team, and it is only the beginning. Out of many teams, only 16 will qualify for the next round,” Gurung said.

Coach Michael Lepcha said the preparations were done step by step. “We currently have around 50 students. Many come from remote areas and earlier did not even have access to mobile phones, which made communication difficult. That is why we held a one-month residential camp and selected the most disciplined and talented players,” he said.

He added that village players show strong dedication and focus. “Rural players are very determined. The seriousness seen during training will reflect in their performance at Shillong,” Lepcha said.

Lepcha also noted that football activities in the district have been improving, with a special focus on school-level football since 2022. Under-17 teams have performed well in recent years, and under-age competitions are continuing this year.

The ongoing winter camp, supported by the Sports and Youth Affairs department under its annual programme, has seen participation from around 116 players.

Speaking about Sikkim’s football journey, Lepcha said government efforts in the past produced national-level players like Sanju Pradhan and Robin Gurung, but exposure remains the biggest need today.

“Private academies now play a key role in providing match exposure. Without proper grounds and regular competitions, it becomes difficult for young players to reach higher levels,” he said.