GUWAHATI, Dec 16 � City based Santipur Athletic Club, set up in the year 1952, is gearing up to celebrate its diamond jubilee year.
Addressing a press conference at its club house today, Aswini Goswami, president of the reception committee, AB Md Eunus, president of the club revealed that the celebration will begin on December 23 by hoisting of the club flag and a cultural procession. The celebration will culminate on January 20 with the finals of the competitions which will be continued from December 23 onwards. On the closing day, a cultural function will also be organised in the evening.
Competitions like art, quiz, extempore speech, table tennis will be organised among the school children mainly during the month-long celebration.
Goswami elaborated about the history of the club and how it passed through tough times. Football and cricket were the main events of the club where it excelled in 1980s and 1990s. They even became GSA senior division football league champions in 80s and produced several State level players both in football and cricket.
But after the mid 90s, the performance of the football team started deteriorating and the club does not have a football team in GSA league at any level.
The present batch of club officials revealed that due to lack of local players and young organisers in the club, they are not been able to prepare a good football team. They however, said next year they will try to build a team for the qualifying round.
The officials also said that as the Sonaram HS School field became a public ground and used for commercial purposes mainly, local boys hardly get opportunity to practice on that ground.
They said they are trying to make the Gopalananda Ashram ground ready for football practice for the local boys.
The organisers also praised the initiative of former Chief Minister Hiteswar Saikia for getting the club campus back from the requisition of local administration in 1980s.
Now the club has constructed a beautiful club house with the help of government and donation from the local people.
Along with the other officials, Apurba Bora and Lakhan Medhi were also present in the press meet.
