KPFriendship Cup

Kolkata Police Friendship Cup

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. 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 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 channelize their energies and vigor for the larger good of the society.

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. In 2017 638 nos of club have participated involving 12,760 players in the Friendship Cup Tournament. Mike Powell Former Olympian (World Record Holder in Long Jump) inaugurated the opening ceremony on 14.12.2017 at BodyGuard Lines Ground.

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 2017 & 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.