Siliguri/Kolkata, September 17, 2026: Vivekananda Vidyamandir High School completed a double triumph at the Siliguri leg of the CIL Cup, a grassroots football initiative supported by Coal India, winning both the boys’ and girls’ finals against Krishnamaya Nepali High School to secure berths in the zonal stage. The school’s boys’ team prevailed 5-4, while the girls’ team recorded a 1-0 victory. Zaba Das was named Player of the Match in the girls’ final. The girls’ competition featured eight teams, with Vivekananda Vidyamandir High School and Krishnamaya Nepali High School reaching the final. The match was decided by a solitary goal as Vivekananda Vidyamandir High School secured the title and earned their place in the women’s zonal stage.
The boys’ category saw 16 teams compete for the Siliguri title, with the same two schools progressing to the final. In a closely contested encounter, Vivekananda Vidyamandir High School edged past Krishnamaya Nepali High School 5-4 to complete their second title of the day and qualify for the men’s zonal stage. The double success gives Vivekananda Vidyamandir High School representation in both sections at the next stage of the competition. For the players, the achievement also provides an opportunity to continue competing against teams from other locations and gain further experience as the CIL Cup progresses.
The zonal stage will bring together teams that have emerged from the different locations, raising the level of competition as the tournament moves towards its concluding stages. Four men’s and four women’s teams will eventually qualify from the zonal stage for the semi-finals, with the semi-finals and final scheduled to be held in Purulia. The CIL Cup also seeks to create opportunities for promising players beyond the tournament itself. At the conclusion of the competition, 50 to 100 players will be recommended to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for scholarships, providing a potential pathway for emerging footballers to access further support and development.
About CIL Cup
The CIL Cup is a grassroots football initiative supported by Coal India, aimed at promoting football at the grassroots level and creating opportunities for talent identification and development. The league phase features 1,400 teams, more than 1,302 matches and over 21,000 men and women players, providing a wide platform for emerging footballers to compete and showcase their potential. The Grand Finale will be held in the last week of October in Purulia, with total prizes worth INR 10 lakh. Through the CIL Cup, Coal India continues to champion grassroots football and support the identification and development of the next generation of talent.
