Sikkim Premier Division League 2019 – Matchday 4

Sikkim Aakraman FC are five points clear at the top of the Sikkim Premier Division League, while defending champions, United Sikkim FC, suffer their fourth loss in a row.

State Sports Academy thrash Unicorn FC 7-0 to climb to second place with superior goal difference.  

Unicorn gets a hiding

State Sports Academy handed Unicorn FC a humiliating 7-0 loss in the fourth round of the Sikkim Premier Division League at the Paljor Stadium, Gangtok. 

After a goalless first half, State Sports Academy bombarded the Unicorn FC goal with a series of attacks – and with successful results. Sagar Gurung broke the deadlock in the 50th minute which opened the floodgates with Karma Bhutia as the main benefactor. 

Bhutia netted four goals scored in the 58th, 75th, 85th, and the 90th minute. Lensong Lepcha helped himself to a goal in the 79th minute, while Lakpa Sherpa completed the rout in injury time. 

The win takes State Sports Academy to second place with seven points, while Unicorn FC slipped down to the sixth place with four points and a negative goal difference of -11.

Police beat United’s defence

United Sikkim FC, the defending champion of the Sikkim Premier Division League lost their fourth match in a row, this time at the hands of Sikkim Police XI. 

Two goals in the dying minutes of the first half sealed the fate of United Sikkim. Sangay Bhutia opened the scoring in the 44th minute, while Bir Bahadur Pradhan doubled the lead the very next minute. 2-0 at the break.

The Policemen could have added more goals to their tally in the second half, but the two goals were enough for them to climb to the third spot with seven points. As for United Sikkim, all hopes of retaining the crown were dashed with the loss. Their woeful season has seen them score one goal and concede 11 in the process. 

Kumar Sporting and Aakraman beat Boys Club

Boys Club Gangtok lost both their matches in the fourth round. The first match against Kumar Sporting FC ended in a 2-0 loss. Mayel Lepcha and Rinchen Lepcha were the goal scorers for the Kumar Sporting. 

Three days later, Boys Club showed great heart in a 1-0 to Sikkim Aakraman FC. Sonam Tshering netted his third goal of the campaign to hand the table-toppers the three points. Aakraman FC had scored 14 goals in three matches and the1-0 scoreline is the lowest-scoring affair of their campaign so far. 

The losses meant the Boys Club is in seventh place, three points ahead of bottom-placed United Sikkim FC. Kumar Sporting FC are in a three-way tie with seven points, while Aakraman FC are five points clear at the top with 12 points.

Unicorn FC’s financial woes

Last week, the social media team of Unicorn FC lambasted the founding members of the club for their apparent disinterest.

“When the club is doing well financially everyone wanted to be a part of the club, but when our club is literally bankrupt nobody wants to be a part of it. We are not asking for contribution for our personal motive….let me remind you that it is for the club,” said the statement. 

A couple of days later, things took a positive turn as a member of the ruling political party handed Unicorn FC an undisclosed amount of financial aid.

“Sikkim Unicorn Football club, is greatful to Mr. Tshering Wangchuk Lepcha Gen.Secretary of The Educated Unemployed youth wing of S.K.M. party for granting us financial assistance. Your generous contribution to the club, who is participating in the Sikkim Premier division league means a lot to the Sikkim Unicorn family.”

Indian state leagues, eh? Never a dull moment.