Koraput: These men are daily wagers-khalasis, but their passion is football. After a hard day’s toil to earn their bread these khalasis of Borigumma in Koraput district play football during their leisure time.
Maa Budhi Thakurani Khalasi Sangh, Borigumma has been organising football tournament at Borigumma for the last 12 years with participation of teams from outside the State.
However, this year the Sangh has planned to organise the tournament as an International Gold Cup with the participation of foreign teams from Nigeria and Nepal as well as 12 teams from other states of our country.
The tournament is scheduled to commence from November 5.
The inaugural match will be played between women’s football teams from Cuttack and Sundargarh.
“Khalasi Sangh has been organising the tournament for the last 12 years. But this year we have named it as Gold Cup. That apart this year foreign teams will be taking part in the tournament. We had contacted three foreign teams. Nigeria and Nepal have confirmed their participation. Bangladesh had also expressed its desire to participate but due to visa problems they are not coming. This tournament will commence from November 5 and conclude on November 13,” informed Padman Swain, President Maa Budhi Thakurani Khalasi Sangh, Borigumma.
Swain said that the main attraction of the tournament will be the gold cup made by the Khalasi Sangh which will be presented to the winner.
He said that then other attractions will be the foreign teams.
There are also plans to get a celebrity, he added.
