GUWAHATI: The 70th Bharat Ratna Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi Trophy is set to commence on Wednesday, January 29, with matches being conducted across 35 revenue districts of Assam. Organised by the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, Assam, the Guwahati Sports Association (GSA), and district associations, the tournament promises to revitalise football in the state.
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At a press meet held at the Gauhati Town Club auditorium, GSA General Secretary Devajit Saikia, GSA President Paresh Chandra Das, GSA Sports Secretary for Football L. Pranab Singh, and Saurav Chatterjee, Director of Best of You India, shared details about the event.
Describing the tournament as "a new beginning" for football in Assam, Saikia highlighted its aim to nurture young talent and provide a platform for players to shine.
The tournament will feature a three-stage format, starting with the district round.
In the district round, 280 clubs will compete in a league-cum-knockout format, with a total of 525 matches to be played. The champions from each district will advance to the cluster round and receive a prize of ₹ 75,000.
The cluster round will divide the teams into six clusters representing different regions of Assam—Upper Assam, Northern Assam, Central Assam, Lower Assam, Barak Valley, and the Capital Region. Cluster champions will receive ₹ 1 lakh, while the runners-up will be awarded ₹ 75,000.
The final round will feature two teams from the Guwahati Premier Football League—NF Railway Sports Association and Pride East Mavericks—alongside two additional teams, potentially from the Indian Super League (ISL), I-League, or abroad. The champions will win ₹ 10 lakh, with ₹ 5 lakh for the runners-up and ₹ 2.5 lakh for the semifinalists. Individual honours, including Player of the Tournament, Golden Boot, Golden Gloves, and the Fair Play Team award, will also be presented.
In an effort to promote grassroots development, the tournament mandates the inclusion of at least five Under-19 players in each team, with two U-19 players required to be in the starting XI and three on the bench. Spotters will monitor the matches to identify emerging talent.
The GSA has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Best of You India to provide international exposure for young players. Seventeen players will be selected for a two-week training programme in Spain, with two receiving an additional month of training. One player will have the opportunity to join Marbella FC, a Spanish fourth-division club known for its excellent facilities.
The selection process will begin with an initial shortlist of 72 players, narrowed down to 35 during trials in Guwahati. Foreign coaches will oversee the final selection.
With a total prize pool of ₹80 lakh and opportunities for international exposure, the 70th Bharat Ratna Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi Trophy aims to set new standards for football in Assam while fostering young talent across the state.
