Kalpana Trust and Ramnagar High School Bahrampur Triumph in CIL Cup Zonal Finals
In Krishnanagar, West Bengal, on October 13, Kalpana Trust and Ramnagar High School Bahrampur emerged victorious in the men's and women's categories, respectively, during the zonal stage of the CIL Cup, an initiative by Coal India Limited. Both teams have secured their spots in the semifinals, which are set to take place in Purulia.
During the men's final, Kalpana Trust triumphed over Baduria DKM with a score of 4-3 in a thrilling penalty shootout, thus clinching the championship title. A total of 11 teams competed in the men's tournament, with Mejia FC finishing in third place and Chandmonidas Residential Football Academy taking fourth. Pritam Maity was honored as the 'Player of the Match' for his outstanding performance.
On the women's side, Ramnagar High School Bahrampur also won their final against Habiba Sporting Club, again by a score of 4-3 in penalties, earning them the championship title and a place in the semifinals. The women's competition featured four teams, with Basirhat St. XI Football Coaching Centre finishing third and Kalpana Trust in fourth. Sultana Rijia was recognized as the Player of the Match.
The Krishnanagar zonal stage serves as a crucial step in the CIL Cup, allowing both men's and women's champions to advance to the semifinals. This tournament is designed to provide teams from across West Bengal with a structured pathway to progress through various levels of competition.
Coal India Limited's CIL Cup initiative aims to bolster grassroots football by offering organized opportunities for players to compete, demonstrate their skills, and move up in the tournament hierarchy.
The CIL Cup features a league phase that includes 1,400 teams, over 1,302 matches, and more than 21,000 male and female players, creating a vast platform for budding footballers to showcase their talents. The Grand Finale is scheduled for the last week of October in Purulia, with total prizes amounting to Rs 10 lakh.