GANGTOK: The much-awaited third season of the Sikkim Premier League (SPL) is set to kick off on April 10 with an exciting opening match and a grand inaugural ceremony at Bhaichung Stadium, Namchi.
Defending champions Singling SC will square off against Thunderbolt North United in the highly anticipated curtain-raiser of this premier football tournament. Nine franchise clubs will battle it out in SPL Season 3, with Black Eagles FC from Gangtok making their debut in this year’s edition.
The SPL is organized by Football Development Pvt Ltd (FDPL) under the aegis of the Sports Department, Government of Sikkim, with the technical backing of the Sikkim Football Association (SFA).
At a press conference held on Saturday, FDPL’s board of directors, including Nirmal Chettri, Nim Tshering Lepcha, Bikash Jairu, and Nim Tshering Lepcha, shared the details of the upcoming season.
“We are thrilled to welcome Black Eagles FC into the fold for SPL Season 3. With this new addition, we now have nine clubs, an expansion from the previous two seasons. The SPL was launched to nurture and showcase our local football talent, and we’re optimistic that more teams will join the league in the years to come,” said Chettri.
The teams in SPL Season 3 represents all six districts, including Sikkim Aakraman FC and Sikkim Dragons FC from Gangtok, Red Panda FC and Sinolchu FC from Namchi, and Roaring Leopard FC (Pakyong), Thunderbolt North United (Mangan), Singling SC (Soreng), and Gyalshing United (Gyalshing). Each district is well-represented, promising a rich mix of local talent.
The tournament will see a total of 36 matches during the league stage, hosted at Bhaichung Stadium in Namchi and Paljor Stadium in Gangtok. Following the league phase, two play-off matches will determine the finalists, culminating in a thrilling grand final. The exact date for the final is yet to be confirmed.
The league winner will earn a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh, while the SPL champion will walk away with a Rs. 20 lakh prize, and the runners-up will secure Rs. 10 lakh. Each club is allowed to have five foreign players and five outstation players in their 30-member squad, but only two foreign players and two outstation players can feature in each match. Additionally, each team must field at least one U-19 player during every game.
This season, the SPL will introduce a ticketing system for spectators at both venues, with ticket prices kept affordable. Children under 15 years and students with valid ID cards or in school uniform will receive free entry, provided they have school permission.
As the countdown to the opening match begins, excitement is building among players and fans across Sikkim. With nine strong teams vying for glory, SPL Season 3 promises to deliver intense action, fierce competition, and even higher standards of play than in the previous editions. This could well be the most thrilling season yet!
- SA Report
