Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh) (ANI): Tibetan exiles' football team played for the first time in a local tournament here in Dharamsala eyeing upon recognition by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
The 22nd Shaheed Durga Mal Dal Bahadur Memorial Gold Cup Football Tournament is organised in the memory of two Gorkha-Nepali soldiers, who sacrificed their lives for their motherland.
Thirteen teams from different parts of India, including the Tibetan National Sports Association (TNSA) football team, are participating in the five-day tournament.
TNSA General Secretary Kelsang Dhondup said the All India Football Federation (AIFF) did not recognize them, proving to be a major handicap for the Tibetan exiles' budding players.
"This is a step for us to go for a tournament and then the problem for us is the All India Football Federation, sometime they say we are not allowed to play the Indian league. It's a big problem for us," said Kelsang Dhondup.
"We have requested the All India Football Federation to give us a chance to play in the domestic tournament," he added.
"Definitely, if All India Football Federation supports the TNSA it will be very helpful in the development of Tibetan national football," said Tashi Tsering, the team's coach.
The Tibetan exiles' football team had earlier played in the Sikkim Gold Cup, held in Gangtok.
Today : Sunday - May 27, 2012, 04:42pm (GMT+5.5)
