Date

Kolkata is a thriving city with booming economy, nevertheless its society is riddled with many problems, and it is still carrying the burden of colonial legacy. Thus to sweep away traditional mistrust and prejudice, it was very obvious for us to select the universal language as a medium to communicate with city people, and what else it could be other than football. Thus the concept of Friendship Cup Football Tournament has been conceived. In India Football is played and followed with a lot of passion, zeal and enthusiasm. City Police wanted to put forward something new for a larger section of underprivileged youth and FRIENDSHIP CUP made it possible to reach out to them.

Among the many projects, Friendship Cup Football Tournament which is popularly known as Para Football has been one of the most successful and talked about initiatives in building community relationships. This is a replicable model that can be adapted anywhere in the world. In apprehension of its immense popularity, corporate sectors have associated themselves with this tournament, thereby dovetailing with corporate social responsibilities. As a furtherance of this, School-Footers, an Inter School Football Tournament and College Footers, an Inter College Tournament comprising Schools and Colleges have been added to the sporting calendar of Kolkata Police and serve as a major means towards improvement of the police-community relationship. This project was started in the year 1997 with the participation of a very few number of teams. Participation of Local clubs in this tournament has been increased in incredible numbers from the time of its inception and it has attained immense popularity. This tournament has found a place in Limca Book of Records in the year 2007 with the participation of 518 teams and 7770 players in a single tournament. Such creative and productive initiative was whole-heartedly welcomed by everybody especially the younger generation, the future of the nation. It is our motto to channelise their energies and vigor for the larger good of the society.

The winners of this tournament over the years have received prizes galore ranging from a trip to England, Germany & Singapore to Motorcycles as individual prizes. Chosen players are given free vocational training so that they can establish themselves in their life. Best players of the tournament were taken for a trip to Germany and had the opportunity to train with FC Bayern Munchen in Germany.

Every year new summits are scaled.  In the year 2015, 755 local teams, 52 Schools and 24 Colleges participated in the in this tournament which involved 15100 local youth between age group of 16 to 25 years and 1520 students. This tournament is the largest tournament of the World so far numbers of participation is concerned.

826 nos of clubs have participated involving 16520 players in the Friendship Cup Tournament last year (2016) as per available records.

The services of the Friendship Cup Football players are availed of to strengthen the hands of the Police by making them provide information about local anti-socials, unwarranted persons and similar activities. Inputs from them help us prepare more people friendly policies & serve as important feedback mechanism. Their assistance is taken to help critical patients during emergencies, to help police during crisis management such as fire, water logging and similar situations.

This unique model which involves common people to work with Police has the potential of evolving as a replicable model in community policing anywhere in the World. The idea of Kolkata Police Friendship Cup Football Tournament can be shared and exchanged with London Metropolitan Police so that they can also replicate this unique model of community participation in policing. In turn it is obvious that some new ideas that are implemented by them may also be replicated by us. Selected players from this tournament are to be taken to London to witness and familiarize with their activities/initiatives in this field. At the same time we may also invite them in our city to showcase our projects before them.

Closing Ceremony & Final Match of the Friendship Cup held on 27.07.2018 at Bodyguard lines ground. Shri Sandeep Singh, Former Captain Indian Hockey Team grace the occasion as the Chief Guest. Vivekananda College under Thakurpukur PS have won the Friendship Cup Tournament 2018 by defeating Vidhyasagar Smriti Sangha of Ultandanga PS.

Sk. Rintu and Loknath Mondal were selected players of the tournament i.e. Friendship Cup 2017 and sent to visit for an exposure trip of 7 (Seven) days to the World famous Football Club F.C Einchart in Germany.

Present Status

On 05.11.2022 Famous Brazilian footballer Marcos Evangelista de Morais, popularly known as Cafu took part in the inaugural match of Friendship Cup Football Tournament 2022 at Mohammedan Sporting Club Ground. This year 406 clubs participated in this tournament and matches were played at 33 venues. Closing ceremony was graced by Abhinaba Brinda, former Olympic gold medal winner on 16th December 2022 at Body Guard Lines.