Voting gives teams a chance for direct entry
GATHER SUPPORT In a first, HT GIFA has introduced a voting platform to ensure the most popular teams do not miss out on the main event even if they lose in qualifers
NEW DELHI: After the unprecedented flurry of registrations, players and the parents are now keenly awaiting to find out if their team would be shortlisted for the HT GIFA tournament this season.
Over 2000 teams from across Delhi NCR had registered for the third season of the football tournament. With the slots limited, only some of them would get the chance to play in the proper tournament.
Teams would be invited for the qualifier training session starting on August 20. All details pertaining to the qualifier training round would be communicated to the teams directly.
Teams that would take part in the HT GIFA proper, to be held in the first week of October, would be finalised after the qualifier training round.
WHAT EXACTLY IS QUALIFIER TRAINING ROUND?
All eligible teams who have entered valid information while registering would be invited to the first round — which would be a qualifier round to finalise the field for the tournament proper.
It is compulsory to take part in the qualifier round to be eligible for the final HT GIFA tournament.
Details regarding the venue, timing and match scheduling would be communicated directly to the team manager.
WHAT IS VOTING?
To ensure that teams get as many chance to play as possible, HT GIFA also have a provision to grant them a direct entry to the main tournament. This will be based on how much support the team has from the public.
Voting has been introduced to ensure that teams that enjoy good support from their societies will get a chance to participate in the HT GIFA tournament even if they get knocked out in the prequalifiers. Players can gather votes for their teams on the ‘VOTING’ page of the HTGIFA website: htgifa. hindustantimes.com.
The names of teams or players can be searched for in the search bar.
To vote for a team, one needs to login through a valid email ID or through a Facebook account.
A person can only cast one vote in 24 hours for any team.
Teams with the highest votes gathered every week would be given direct entry to the HT GIFA tournament to be begin in the first week of October.
To help potential voters better identify a team or their favourite player, team managers may upload the team’s group photo by logging through their account.
The voting feature, a first for the tournament, has been welcomed by players and supporters alike.
“I was pleasantly surprised with the number of friends and family members who have voted for our team. This has certainly boosted our confidence further. While we are confident of qualifying in the training rounds, we do not want to miss out any chance to gain direct entry. HT GIFA is too big for us to miss,” said Advaith Singh of FC Blasters from Gurgaon.
“Even though I am unable to participate in HT GIFA this year as I have already passed out of school, I am more than happy to lend my support to my nephew, who would be participating this year. The voting process has given me a good platform to show my support to my nephew and his team,” said Pankaj Lalwani.
TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE TEAM, YOU NEED TO LOGIN THROUGH A VALID EMAIL ID OR THROUGH A FACEBOOK ACCOUNT My team has been practicing non-stop for the past 3 weeks. Being an all girls team, we have strived to practise and train extra hard to compete with the other boys team. I am confident that the girls will play exeptionally well and make us all proud! I hope my team gets through to the final HT GIFA tournament. I know that I have a lot of support from my friends and family and would be requesting them to vote and support our team on the HTGIFA website.
www.gifa@hindustantimes.com or call us at 0120-6404416 for more details. PANKAJ SINGH, Manager of NMFC Girls team ADITYA SUKUMAR,Team Mayur FC