VOL 4
NEWSLETTER 2011-12
www.tibetansports.org
GCM GOLD CUP
2011 & 2012
Girls’ Football
Training module for school girls held at Gopalpur TCV school
Exhibition
Match
A milestone in the contemporaryTibetan football history!
VIVA WORLD CUP KURDISTAN 2012 TNSa_Newletter2012.indd 1
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Inside: 3
EDITORIAL
4 SELECTION OF NATIONAL FOOTBALL SQUAD 2012
5 EXHIBITION MATCH
5 2012 VIVA WORLD CUP
6 Training for Girls’ Football Team
7 2011 GCMGC FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT
YOU CAN SUPPORT TNSA IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS: 1. Donate towards the Coaching Centre Project. 2. Sponsor a player for a training. 3. GCM Tournament: Sponsor a year’s tournament or part of it. 4. Junior Tournament: Sponsor a tournament or a part of it. 5. Sports equipment sponsorship. 6. Sponsor a workshop or a training program as per scheme. 7. Endowment for TNSA.
8 GCMGC FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT 2012
12 Training for Women’s Football Coaches
13 Exhibition Match
14 Boys’ Basketball
15 Acknowledgement All contributions within India and abroad can be made by cheque or bank draft in favour of:
16
the new tibetan football jersey
TIBETAN NATIONAL SPORTS ASSOCIATION
C/o Tibetan Children’s Villages Dharamsala Cantt. District Kangra-176216 Himachal Pradesh, India
Layout and design: Computer Section Library of Tibetan Works and Archives Gangchen Kyishong - 176215 (H.P.) INDIA Phone:9882255047
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Tibetan National Sports Association NEWSLETTER 2010-11 EDITORIAL
TNSA Governing B od y M e m be r s Ven. Karma Gelek Yuthok (Chairman) Secretary, Department of Education, CTA
Mr. Tsewang Yeshi President, TCV Schools
Mr. Ngawang Dorji Principal, TCV College
Mr. Tenzin Sangpo Education Director, TCV
Mr. Sonam Topgyal General Secretary, THF
Mr. Karma Chungdak Director, Sambhota Schools
Mr. Tsewang Rinzin President, TYC
Ms. Kirti Dolkar Lhamo President, TWA
Mr. Jyurmey Wangdak
President, Ottawa Friends of Tibet, Canada
Mr. Kelsang Dhondup
(Member-Secretary) Executive Secretary, TNSA
Tibetan National Sports Association NEWSLETTER 2011-12 Vol: 04
For information, please write to: Executive Secretary
C/O TCV Head Office Dharamsala Cantt, 176216 Distt. Kangara (H.P.) INDIA Phone: 91-1892-220240 Email: office@tibetansports.org Web: www.tibetansports.org
The year 2012 marks the tenth year of the formal founding of the TNSA (Tibetan National Sports Association alias Tibetan Sports Association). In its decade-long drive, notwithstanding the limitations and challenges it encountered, the TSA has trudged on, making headway on a number of fronts that underscored the journey thus far. Tibet never had its own national sporting team throughout its history, although football (soccer) was quite popular since the early 20th century, particularly around Lhasa, Tibet’s capital. But no Tibetan team played a single match beyond the geographical confines of its land. The popularity of the game continued unabated, even after coming into exile. Therefore, TSA felt that the formation of a national football team was important to represent Tibet in international sporting platforms. A team was created and that team was to become the first ever national football squad of Tibet. It made its debut appearance in an exhibition match in Italy, opening doors for the first time to international sporting rendezvous. Since then 38 matches have been played including 25 in Europe. In one of the play- offs the team was awarded the Fair Play Trophy - the first ever international award earned! Soon the TSA Executive Secretary was appointed as a member of Nouvelle Federation Board (international football association for nations not affiliated with FIFA) furthering its credibility. Within a few years a junior edition of the team was formed, competing in 10 matches in Europe alone. Such exposures in international sporting forums have also facilitated dissemination and promotion of Tibetan identity. Driven by the successes of its undertakings, the association embarked upon a football program at grass root level for boys in twenty schools, beginning 2009. The initiative literally jolted the stupor, galvanizing the establishments into formations of more than one hundred clubs under different age groups by 2012. It was clear these could improve the quality of the GCMGC (Gyalyum Chenmo Memorial Gold Cup) Football Tournament which has drawn fifty-nine Tibetan FCs across India, Nepal and even one from Canada, with a combined strength of 1,500 players who have participated since the mandate of the tourney was given to TSA in 2003. 2011 witnessed a major paradigm shift when the game was introduced to girls in nine residential schools, doing away with the general conservative perception that ‘women-can’t-play-football’. Within months of intensive training not only has a formal united girls team sprung up, but it has also debuted in state level play offs for the first time in 2012! The team looks forward to kicking a ball beyond a state level. The time has also come to get into basketball and other areas of sports. In fact, in its second phase of the program TSA has already started organizing its first inter-school basketball tournaments among Tibetan schools. There are more projects on the association’s anvil yet to take shape. Yet these can be achieved only with concerted effort, support and cooperation from all quarters. As of now with the support and cooperation received from various quarters, particularly TCV, the TSA has been able to infuse the importance of games and sports into the exile community, particularly among the youth. The progress made so far is pleasing, and exciting. Ngawang Yeshi
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SELECTION OF NATIONAL FOOTBALL SQUAD 2012 Selection of players for the national team was conducted at Upper TCV School at Dharamsala from 11-20 June 2012. All players who were picked up from the last camps held at SOS VTC, Selakui in Dehradun, and the previous GCMGC tournament were summoned for a camp. There were forty seven selectees in all who were called in for the final selection. However, only 23 players turned up for the camp and the rest were either left for abroad or simply did not come including some quality players leaving TSA with a very little space for the selection. Ironically all the 47 players called for the camp had participated in 2012 GCMGC tournament.
CAMP At the end of the camp seventeen players were able to make to it to the final squad out of which four players emigrated to the West. This had prompted TSA to pull in more players to fill the void left by them. Since further migration of the players to the West could not be ruled out TSA felt to have reserve players if in case. Therefore, ten more players had been included in the reserve squad to be represented in any national or international tournament in the event of dearth of players. After a series of rigorous trainings a panel of selectors comprising Mr. G.D. Malhortra of SAI (Sports Authority of India, Delhi), Mr. Vijay Bhandari of NIS (National Institute of Sports, Dharamsala) and Mr. Sadiq Saleh, former player of a Nigerian club, came up with the final football squad. Though 4 TNSa_Newletter2012.indd 4
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most of the players were unanimously enlisted but differences popped up in some cases. The selectors were again requested to further observe the players-in-doubt and make final assessments. After days of appraisals a final list of players was drawn. The selected players were notified within hours with all relevant information required to be kept in mind including their duties and responsibilities.
EXHIBITION MATCH On 9 June two exhibition matches were played among the selectees divided into three teams and a local Tibetan club. Players were donned with the new Tibetan national uniform for its promotion and
publicity as agreed to its manufacturer, COPA Company. The first match was played between reserve 10 and the third group of the selectees. The second match was played between Dhasa United FC and the first group of selected players. On 20 June a farewell lunch was hosted to the participants and a souvenir each was presented to the three selectors as tokens of appreciation for their services in selecting the national football squad.
2012 VIVA WORLD CUP The TSA had formerly been invited by the Nouvelle Federation Board (international football association for nations unaffiliated with FIFA) based in France to participate in the 2012 VIVA World Cup in Kurdistan. With a nod of approval from its Governing Body TSA decided send a team. Interested potential sponsors were located and approached. Buoyed by positive response from the sponsors and TSA own initial budgetary need met NF Board was promptly informed confirming the participation of Team Tibet. All preliminary mandatory procedures required for the participation were observed. Months elapsed and there was no response from the sponsors despite repeated efforts to contact them. With only weeks left to kick off the tournament feasibility of sending the team to Kurdistan became implausible. Ultimately, with no adequate funds and time TSA was compelled to revoke its decision to send the team. 5 TNSa_Newletter2012.indd 5
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Training for Girls’ Football Team Football is relatively a new sporting activity for girls in exiled Tibetan community. Ms. Cassie Childers, a passionate footballer from the U.S.A., approached TSA Executive Secretary and expressed her interest in organizing and training Tibetan girls' football team/s. After necessary verifications she was assigned in the program to raise fund and train the school girls selected from various Tibetan schools located in and around the vicinity of Dharamsala. The schools included five TCVs and CST at Chauntara. In the meantime, at the behest of the Executive Secretary she took up a trainers' workshop for Physical Instructors of various Tibetan schools before she embarked upon the programs for school girls. A separate training module for school girls was held in January-February at Gopalpur TCV school. Besides, the trainer designed daily curriculum that included fitness, health, leadership, team building, communication and gender equality. This aligned closely with one of the primary objectives of the entire program - empowerment of females in Tibetan community. Mean while, views of various experts and professionals who were involved in the program were sought for further development of the initiative. All were of the view that Tibetan girls could now play football with confidence. They not only learned the game but also improved health, built confidence, gained leadership ability, forged new relationships with each other and their teachers and coaches and above all they were imbued with love for the most wonderful game on this planet! Given their hidden talents now exposed the TSA hopes to have its first women’s Team Tibet. The TSA encouraged the camp participants to help form football clubs in their respective schools and lead once they returned. Hopefully this first ever football training by TSA would sow seeds for the growth of enthusiastic and successful women footballers in year to come.
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2011 GCMGC FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT In compliance with the resolutions passed by the TSA Governing Body, the 2011 GCMGC tournament was to be organized outside Dharamsala. The Executive Committee discussed the viability of holding the tournament at three Tibetan settlements in Mundgod, Hunsur and Clement Town. After weeks of explorations, keeping in view of the conduciveness of the venue and other factors, the Committee settled on Doeguling Tibetan Settlement in Mundgod for the 17th edition of GCMGC football tournament. Having done with necessary procedure and consents of the concerned authorities obtained
official announcement was made. Seventeen clubs responded and there were three places where qualification rounds had to be played to qualify for the finale. The tournament began on 26 September and the final was played on 4 October 2011.
Opening ceremony was kicked off with blessings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama by welcoming His portrait amidst melodious sounds of religious cone-shell and trumpets played by monks escorting the representation of His Holiness. The march past of the participating clubs followed led by a CST band. The national anthems of Tibet and India were presented that was followed by observation of one-minute silence to mark the recent martyrs of Tibet who set them ablaze and died for the Tibetan cause. Introductory speech was given by the TSA Executive Secretary followed by speeches by the dignitaries. The Chief Guest, His Eminence Kundiling Rinpoche, graced the occasion and formerly declared opening of the 2011 edition of GCMGC. There were fourteen teams in all representing various Tibetan FCs from across India and Nepal qualified for the finale. The teams were divided into four pools: two pools comprising four teams while the other two had three clubs. Seeding was given to the last year’s champions and runners-up. Two more teams had to be given seeding for their consistent quality performances that included Phakshing FC of Kathmandu and Ghanjong FC of Shillong, along with Dhondupling FC of Clement Town and Doeguling FC of Mundgod. Each team had two matches (league) in the qualifying round of group-play and the top two of each group qualified for the knockout (elimination) stage of the quarter-finals. 7 TNSa_Newletter2012.indd 7
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The teams that qualified for the quarter-finals were: SN. CLUB
PLACE
STATE
1
Doeguling FC,
Mundgod
K.S.
2.
Rabling FC,
Hunsur
K.S.
3.
Dhondupling FC,
Clement Town
U.A.
4.
Varna FC,
Varanasi
U.P.
5.
Phakshing FC,
Kathmandu
Nepal
6.
TSAM FC,
Chennai
T.N.
7.
TDL FC,
Delhi
Delhi
8.
Gulladhalla FC, Bylakuppe
K.S.
Among the quarter finalists Doeguling FC, Dhondupling FC, TSAM FC and Gulladhalla FC made to the semi-finals. After electrifying matches Dhondupling FC and Gulladhalla FC ensured their places in the final play off for the championship. Both the finalists being unable to outdo their opponent in the full time the match ran into extra time. Both the teams could score none in the additional period that prompted penalty shoot-outs to decide their fates. After spectacular penalty shoot-outs Gulladhalla FC emerged as the winners by beating the last year’s Champions, Dhondupling FC, by four goals to two. Ms. Asha Reddy, long time supporter of the Tibetan cause, who was also the Chief Guest of the closing ceremony gave away the Champions Cup, medals and souvenirs to winners, runners-up and officials of the event. The TSA Executive Secretary also expressed his heartfelt thankfulness to all the concerned people who supported and helped in bringing the event to a successful end. The event was widely covered in various medias. 8 TNSa_Newletter2012.indd 8
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The Participating Teams Following FCs participated in the 17th edition of GCMGC Football Tournament held at Doeguling Tibetan Settlement, Mundgod. SN. CLUB
PLACE
STATE
1
Ghangjong FC
Shillong
ML
2
Dhondupling FC
Clement Town
U.A.
3
TCV United Bylakuppe
K.S.
4
Rabling FC
Hunsur
K.S.
5
Dhondenling FC
Kollegal
K.S.
6
Phuntsokling FC
Odisha
Odisha
7
Golladhalla FC Bylakuppe
K.S.
8
Varna FC
U.P.
9
TDL Sports Club Bylakuppe
K.S.
10
Phakshing FC
Kathmandu
Nepal
11
Goa Tibetan FC
Goa
Goa
12
TSAM
Chennai
T.N.
13
Doeguling FC
Mundgod
K.S.
14
CST School FC
Mundgod
K.S.
Varanasi
GCMGC FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT 2012 Since 2007 TSA has been holding the tournament outside Dharamsala twice every three years in an effort to reach out to wider spectrum of exile populace thereby facilitating promotion, dissemination and education of sports particularly among youths. The last two tournaments were held at Bylakuppe and Mundgod Tibetan settlements in 2010 and 2011 respectively. Dharamsala hosts every third year of its rotation. Therefore, 9 TNSa_Newletter2012.indd 9
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the eighteenth edition of GCMGC football tournament had to be held at the town. Formal announcement was made months before the tournament. Twenty four clubs responded and got them formally registered before the deadline. Only one club was permitted to represent an area defined by the association. Teams from a same region were to compete among them to qualify for the finale. Nineteen clubs were qualified for the finale of the 2012 GCMGC tournament. The finalists were: SN. CLUB
PLACE
STATE
1
Dhasa United
Dhasa
H.P.
2
TCV United All TCVs
H.P.
3
Doeguling FC
Mundgod
K.S.
4
Phuntsokling F C
Odisha
Odisha
5
Chauntra United
Chauntra
H.P
6
TSAM
Chennai
T.N.
7
Delhi United
Delhi
Delhi
8
Team Gwalior
Mainpat
M.P.
9
Varna FC
Varanasi
U.P.
10
Dhondupling FC
Clement Town
U.A.
11
Phuntsokling FC
Dalhousie
H.P.
12
Pune F C
Pune
M.S.
13
Choepheling FC
Mio A.P. (NE)
14
Pakhing FC
KMT
Nepal
15
Goa Tibetan FC
Goa
Goa
16
Ghanjong FC
Shillong
Megalaya
17
TDL SC Bylakuppe
K.S.
18
TashiPalkhiel SC
Nepal
19
Norling FC Bhandara
Pokhara
M.S.
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OPENING CEREMONY Inaugural ceremony was held at Upper TCV School ground where the tournament was to be played starting 26 May. It was graced by Mr. Penpa Tsering, Honourable Speaker of the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies, prominent sports figures like Mr. Baichung Bhutia, former captain of the Indian national football team, Mr. Tim Brown, former New Zealand FIFA World Cup player and his wife besides other dignitaries. The opening day featured march past of the participating clubs, presentations of Tibetan and Indian national anthems, prayer of words of truth followed by one-minute silence to mourn the deaths of the martyrs. The eighteenth edition of the GCMGC tournament was kicked off by Mr. Baichung Bhutia, Chief Guest, amidst prominent personalities and thousands of fans and spectators who had converged to witness the event. Tournament The nineteen teams qualified for the 2012 GCMGC finale were divided into six pools and six clubs were given seeding based on their past performances. League-cum-knockout system was adopted to ensure a team would get to at least two matches to play to qualify for the next level of the competition. A top team of a pool and the two bests from the runners-up of all the pools would make to the quarter finals. In all twenty six matches were played. In view of the teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama held at Upper TCV from 1 to 3 June the three last league matches and four quarter finals were played at Lower TCV School ground. The games were tough with the teams fighting tooth and nail to outdo each other to secure a place in the final bout of the tournament. Every factor was reckoned - skills, speed, strategy, combination and perhaps a slight luck to determine the fate of a club in the championship. Phuntsokling FC of Odisha, India, and Pokhra Tashipalkheil Sports Club of Nepal made their ways to the final for the first time. Both the clubs being debutant finalists they were determined to get to the top slot. However, the ninety minutes of electrifying play came to an indecisive end. Extra time had to be allotted but it could not deliver the results either. After a long drawn inconclusive battle the match had to be decided by a tie-breaker - penalty kicks. 11 TNSa_Newletter2012.indd 11
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Two saves by the goalie of Phuntsokling FC in penalty shoot-out tossed his club to the top slot of the Championship. The final penalty shoot-out scores were recorded 4-2. Phuntsokling FC from Odisha were declared the 2012 GCMGC Football Champions. Closing Ceremony The final day of the tournament saw thousands of people poured in from various Tibetan settlements in and around Dharamsala. Honourable Sikyong (Prime Minister of the Central Tibetan Administration), Dr. Lobsang Sangye, who was the Chief Guest, graced the occasion. In his speech before giving away the prizes Honourable Kalon Tripa highlighted the significance of the event. While applauding TSA of its work the Chief Guest also emphasized the importance of sports and health in one’s life. The winners and runners-up received the Championship Cup and trophy along with cash prizes of Rs. 100,000 and 75,000 respectively. Phuntsokling FC of Dalhousie bagged the Fair Play trophy with a cash prize of 10,000. The two top scorers (credited with seven goals each) were presented with 5,000 and a trophy each. The 18th GCMGC Football Tournament was successfully concluded on 3 June 2012.
Training for Women’s Football Coaches As the first step towards establishing a girls’ football program in the refugee community, TSA, in partnership with American coach Cassie Childers, organized a week-long training camp for Tibetan coaches from eight Tibetan Children’s Village schools in India from November 20-26, 2011. A total of 18 coaches attended the training program. A simple opening ceremony was held to mark its opening. The Chief Guest, Mr. Tsewang Yeshi, President of Tibetan Children’s Villages, spoke of the importance of women empowerment in Tibetan community. The program was designed to prepare the coaches to work with girls from a holistic perspective. Each day began with a yoga session implemented by Master Shri Nirmal Kumar from Delhi, followed by a morning session on the ground focusing on physical fitness, led by Paul Dascalu, ex-professional player from Europe. Post breakfast included lectures on various topics like sports psychology, football theory, gender bias and rules of the game taught by eminent professionals. Afternoon sessions saw 12 TNSa_Newletter2012.indd 12
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field activities of two hours where participants learned drills and techniques. In the evenings, 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup games were screened motivate the participants. As the program expands to additional Tibetan schools around India, TSA would hold more training to prepare new Tibetan coaches. The mission during these trainings was not only to provide the skills and guidance needed to simply manage and conduct football practices, but to do so armed with the insight and background knowledge required to guide and support the young women holistically. The one-week session would include interactive workshops on psychology, gender bias, female health and physiotherapy and possibly best coaching practices. It was expected that new coaches would leave with an understanding of how sports could be used as a tool for empowerment and selfdevelopment. The program was wound up with yet another simple function. Ms. Manjushree Roy, Chief Guest, who works for SAI and associated with TSA for quite long, spoke about the importance of women in general and sports in particular. The TSA looks forward to organize more of such programs for Tibetan physical instructors in future. The program was covered extensively by the media, including The Times of India, The Hindustan Times, Voice of America, Phayul, Radio Free Asia and Tibet Times.
Exhibition Match
Prelude to the actual tournament a promotional football match was played between a combined team of Tibetan girls and a Kangra district girls’ team. It was a milestone in the contemporary Tibetan history where Tibetan girls’ team played at such a level, that too with a thumping victory! 13 TNSa_Newletter2012.indd 13
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Boys’ Basketball Some of the glimpses of the boys’ basketball tournaments held at Doon Valley, Bylakuppe and Himachal Pradesh. Eighteen schools competed in these tourneys where TCV Bylakuppe (Sr. Secondary), CST Bylakuppe (Secondary), TCV Selekui and TCV Upper Dharamsala won the championship trophies in their respective zones. The grand final will be played between TCV Selekui and Upper TCV at Dharamshala.
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Acknowledgement
TSA expresses its deepest sense of thankfulness and gratitude to the following institutions and individuals: 2011: The Private Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. 2. Mr. Palden Dhondup, Settlement Officer, Mundgod. 3. Aunty Asha Reddy and her family members. 4. Mr. Migyur D. Samkhar, Australia. 5. DYSA members. 6. All the NGOs at the settlement. 7. Mr. Tenzing Sangpo Education Director TCV Head Office. 8. Mr. Tsering Dhondup, Principal of TCV Byalakuppe. 9. Mr. Nyima Damdul, staff of TCV Bylakuppe. 10. Mr. Migmar Tsering, warden of TCV Hostel, Mundgod. 11. CST school, Mundgod. 12. Mr. Jampa, Spain 1.
2012: 1. The Private Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. 2. TCV Head Office. 3. Mr. Phuntsok Namgyal, Village Director, Upper TCV. 4. Mr. Namdol Tashi, Principal and staff of Upper TCV, Dharamsala. 5. Mr. Sonam Dorjee, Tibetan Settlement Officer, Dharamsala. 6. Mr. Sherab of Mcleod Ganj, Mr. Dawa Rinchen of Tibet Tours and Travels, Mr. Paljor Dorjee of Canara Bank, Dharamsala. 7. Punjab National Bank (Dal Lake). 8. Taxi Union of Mcleod Ganj. 9. Aunty Aasha Reddy and family, Chennai. 10. Mr. Cheme, Principal, and staff members and students of Lower TCV. 11. Ms. Lhakpa Kyizom and medias. 12. SHO, Cantt., Dharamsala 13. Ms. Cassie Childers, USA
Contact: Kunga Guest House, Bhagsunag Road, Mcleodganj, District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India. Tel: +91.1892.221180 / 221569, +91.98160 21180, Email: tenzin_dhonyo@yahoo.co.in. 15 TNSa_Newletter2012.indd 15
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THE NEW TIBETAN FOOTBALL JERSEY Being one of the most interesting football teams in the world, the ‘national’ team of Tibet will be wearing COPA kits.
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