DHARAMSHALA: At a time when world football is going through a series of controversies and scandals, Tibetan football witnessed its much-anticipated annual event, the GCM Gold cup tournament, played out at the Upper TCV football ground in Dharamshala from 30 May – 10 June 2015.
Twenty-eight teams from Tibetan communities across the world vied for the elusive title, providing twelve days of uninterrupted quality football to the thousands of Tibetan football lovers.
The finale match of the tournament was played out between Mundgod FC and Tashiling Pokhara yesterday. Living up to its expectation, the two teams gave an inspired performance, much to the joy of the 4000-strong spectators who have come to witness the single biggest sporting event in exile Tibetan community.
After almost one and a half hour of football, Mundgod FC, one of the youngest teams in the tournament, came out victorious with two goals against Tashiling Pokhara’s one.
The winning team gets a cash prize of one lakh Rupees and the runners up wins seventy thousand Rupees.
Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay, the democratically elected political leader of the Tibetan people, graced the finale as the chief guest, accompanied by dignitaries and officials from the Central Tibetan Administration.
Congratulating the 28 participating teams, Sikyong expressed his appreciation of the Tibetan National Sports Association for their successful efforts in creating awareness on health and fitness through sports. “In a society, health plays a vital role of physical and mental development. Administration also becomes much easier when people are physically fit which ultimately affects our Tibetan struggle in a positive way,” Sikyong said.
He also talked about sports as one of the key factors that can bring about unity, one of the three guiding principles of the present Kashag. As a matter of fact, the present Kashag has allocated monetary grants of 8 Lacs each for the construction of new as well as renovation of existing playgrounds in Tibetan settlements to achieve a dual objective of public health awareness and sustenance of the Tibetan settlements.
The Gyalyum Chenmo (GCM) Gold Cup is an annual football tournament dedicated to the memory of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s late mother. The tournament is organised by Tibetan National Sports Association (TNSA).
Tibet and The Beautiful Game
Football, commonly referred to as the Beautiful Game, began its association with Tibet in the early 20th century during His Holiness the 13th Dalai Lama’s reign. It was introduced to Tibet during the Younghusband military expedition to counter Russia’s growing clout in central Asia at the height of the Great Game era.
The British and their Indian soldiers played football at the British Trade Agency at Gyantse. The introduction of the British military training at Lhasa in 1913, the subsequent increase in the Army and introduction of a modern Police Force in the early 1920’s saw more football in Tibet. The game continued to be played throughout the period before China’s occupation in 1949.
In the 1950’s a few popular teams emerged, like the Lhasa, the Potala, the Drapchi and Bodyguard Regiment football teams. There were frequent matches among themselves as well as with the Chinese military.
After the Chinese occupation of Tibet and the subsequent flight of His Holiness the Dalai Lama into exile in 1959, the Central Tibetan Administration was established to look after the exiles.
With the establishment of the Tibetan administration came schools for Tibetan children, where football was one of the most loved activities. Tibetan children’s passion for football helped keep the children occupied, diverting their attention away from the memory of the tragic loss of their country.
Since then, regular inter-school tournaments were hosted and these initiated much interest and passion among spectators of all ages.
In 1981, the first club level tournament was organised in memory of the late Great Mother of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It has since then come to be known as the Gyalyum Chenmo Memorial (GCM) Gold Cup, the most popular tournament in the Tibetan exile community. Several other popular tournaments in the Tibetan community include Trungkar cup, Losar cup, that are played at the respective Tibetan settlements in India, Nepal and Bhutan.
The current Tibetan national team has played at various international venues at the invitation from foreign clubs and organisations. However, despite the popularity and the potential of the game in the Tibetan community, Tibetan football is yet to be recognised by FIFA, the governing world football association, which itself is undergoing serious allegations of corruption and nepotism.
