The Kurseong Football Association (KFA) in association with the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) will organize the Gorkha Cheli Football Tournament, a soccer tournament for girls, in Kurseong from February 11 to 18.

In recent years, the hill’s administrative body has continuously promoted women’s football across the hills. This is the second successive year when the tournament will be held in the hills. A team of the GTA will also participate in it.

“We are organizing the second edition of the women soccer tournament in association with GTA. It will begin on Sunday. There are eight teams participating in the championship other than GTA and the final match will be played on February 18,” said Sudip Rai, the secretary of KFA.

The champion team will get a trophy and Rs 3 lakhs as cash reward while the runner-up team will get Rs 2 lakhs with a trophy

According to the organising committee of the tournament, along with the GTA XI, other teams which will participate in the event include the Tamil Nadu Football Association, the Sikkim Football Club, the Eagle FC of Katihar in Bihar, Debanjan Share Foundation of Kalimpong, the Sashastra Seema Bal of Ranidanga, the GSFA and the Odisha Football Club.

All the matches will be held at Chanmari soccer ground, ward 20 of Kurseong town.

Anjul Chauhan, the GTA chairman, will inaugurate the championship.

The main objective of organising the soccer event at the hill town is to promote the sport among promising women footballers and give their talent a platform, said the organisers.

As of now, there are a good number of women players in different corners of the hills who are participating in the Kanyashree Cup (organised by Indian Football Association) and other tournaments throughout the year.

“We have been working with the GTA to promote women’s football in the hills. As a part of our endeavour, we had organised a similar event in Kurseong in December last year where women players from Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars had taken part. We have selected players from the tournament and formed the GTA- XI, a team which will participate in the tournament,” Rai said.