Agartala (Tripura) Jul 10: The Niljyoti Rakhal Shield Knockout Football Tournament is set to commence on Friday. The opening match will feature a face-off between Lal Bahadur Byayamagar and Birendra Club. Hosted by the State Football Association, the game is scheduled to kick off at 6 PM under the floodlights at Umakanta Mini Stadium.
Meanwhile, two referees from Assam have arrived in Tripura to officiate matches for both the Rakhal Shield and the First Division League.
Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury has been invited as the chief guest to inaugurate the tournament. Former footballer Dipankar Deb will initiate the event with a ceremonial first kick. Also expected at the event are Pranab Sarkar, President of the State Football Association, Secretary Amit Chowdhury, and other dignitaries. Entry tickets for the spectators have been priced at ₹30.
A preparatory meeting took place on Thursday ahead of the tournament’s launch, where coaches, team captains, and club officials gathered. The session, led by Knockout Committee Secretary Krishnapada Sarkar, aimed to brief all participants on the tournament’s rules and guidelines.
This year, ten clubs are in the fray: Egiye Chalo Sangha, Forward Club, Lal Bahadur Byayamagar, Ramkrishna Club, Nine Bullets Club, Kalyan Samiti, Town Club, Blood Mouth Club, Jewels Association, and Birendra Club. The champions and runners-up will be awarded trophies along with cash prizes of ₹60,000 and ₹40,000 respectively. In the previous edition, Egiye Chalo Sangha emerged as champions, while Ramkrishna Club finished as runners-up.
All participating teams have ramped up their preparations to ensure a strong showing. Sources suggest that Egiye Chalo Sangha, Forward Club, and Blood Mouth Club are entering the tournament with especially formidable squads.
In line with a recent decision made during a meeting with clubs, referees from outside the state will be brought in for the season’s concluding tournaments. As a result, officials Baju Tiso and Dhanesh Shah arrived in Agartala on Thursday afternoon via flight. Knockout Committee Secretary Krishnapada Sarkar greeted them at the airport. These visiting referees will officiate the tournament’s opening match on Friday.
