Assam: CEM Cup to light up Bodoland football from June 15

A major football tournament, the Bodoland CEM Cup 1.0, is set to begin on June 15 across the five districts of Assam’s Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), with a total budget allocation of Rs 6.44 crore.

 

The event, backed by the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), will span from the grassroots level, starting with Village Council Development Committees (VCDCs), up to the final Council level, covering 420 VCDCs across the region.

 

The decision to organise this large-scale tournament was finalised during the BTC Executive Meeting held on Monday. Addressing the media at the Bodoland Secretariat, BTC Executive Member for Sports and Youth Welfare, Daobaisa Boro, emphasised the importance of football in the region.

 

He described the sport as deeply rooted in Bodoland’s culture and praised its role in uniting communities and offering opportunities to local talent, some of whom have gone on to represent both Assam and India.

 

According to Boro, the tournament’s key objectives are to attract the younger generation to sports, promote physical fitness, and foster a spirit of peace and unity through football.

 

He noted that the CEM Cup will serve as a platform to identify and nurture talent at the village level, giving players a rare opportunity to compete in a structured, multi-phase competition. Registration for teams opened on Monday and will remain open until June 10.

 

The tournament will unfold in four phases, beginning at the VCDC level on June 15. Winning teams at the VCDC stage will move on to compete at the constituency level. Constituency champions will then advance to the district level, and ultimately, the district winners will face off in the Council-level finals. This phased structure is intended to create a fair and competitive pathway for all participants while ensuring widespread community involvement.

 

A total prize pool of Rs 72.25 lakh has been set aside. At the VCDC level, champion teams will receive Rs 7,000, with runners-up getting Rs 5,000 and the best player awarded Rs 2,000. The stakes rise in each phase, with Council-level champions set to receive Rs 1.5 lakh, the runners-up Rs 1 lakh, and the third-place team Rs 50,000. Additional awards include Rs 10,000 each for the best player of the tournament and the best goalkeeper.

 

Boro urged residents, local authorities, and community organisations to support the tournament and help ensure its success. He expressed confidence that the Bodoland CEM Cup would not only reignite passion for football across the region but also strengthen the social fabric by bringing people together through sport.