District-level Football Tournament : Jhargram, January 2024

A district-level football tournament was organised for the third year covering all 8 blocks of the Jhargram district from 19 December 2023 to 21 January 2024 by Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Jhargram. 4 teams from each block (2 of them women’s teams), Total-32 teams participated in this knock-out tournament. A total of 30 matches were held in 13 venues.

Some salient points of the Tournament:

• Women’s matches were officiated by only women referees and they also officiated in some men’s matches
• 77 former footballers of the Jhargram district were felicitated during the tournament. 2 persons who were former members of the Calcutta Referees’ Association from the district were also felicitated.
• Football shoes and socks were given to 11 men and 13 women footballers hailing from humble backgrounds.
• All the 512 players from 32 teams were given certificates, medals, and a Swamiji’s book. The zonal winners were given mementos. The clubs were given certificates and 2’ Swamiji’s photos.
• Apart from winners and runners-up trophies, Best Player & Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament awards for both groups were given. This year, cash prizes were given to all 4 teams who qualified for the semi-finals, and in each match, one male player and one female player were adjudged as the man of the match and woman of the match. Both of them were given a trophy.
• One set football jersey was given to the players of all the 4 teams taking part in the finals.
• All those who came to witness the matches in 13 venues were given a book of Swamiji. Besides, 20-30 people who were involved in organising these matches at each of the 13 venues were felicitated and given Swamiji’s books.

The finals for Men and Women’s groups were held at the Jhargram stadium on 21 January 2024. Swami Prarthanananda, Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Medinipur; Sri Chitta Ranjan Das Majumdar, Referee’s Instructor –AIFF, Former FIFA Referee, Former Hony. Secretary, (Calcutta Referees’ Association-WB) , Former Chief Referee, (Railway Board-New Delhi); Sri Debabrata Sarkar, Sports Organiser, and other dignitaries gave away the prizes.

Swami Brahmeshwarananda was the chief coordinator and worked tirelessly to make the tournament a great success.