BAPS Charities organised a national football tournament for boys, the Pramukh Cup, on Saturday 13 July 2024 at Gibbons Recreation Ground opposite BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London. With an impressive turnout, 51 teams from various parts of the UK, including distant places like Manchester and Crawley, participated in the competition.
The tournament kicked off with a grand opening ceremony, inspired by the excitement surrounding England’s entry into the Euro 2024 Final. The ceremony highlighted the history of the tournament and themes of unity through engaging media presentations and speeches.
The children were organised into three age group cups – the Ghanshyam Cup (School Years 2-3), the Nilkanth Cup (School Years 4-6), and the Pramukh Cup (School Years 7-8). The group matches commenced amid warm summer sunshine, as crowds of parents and volunteers assembled around each pitch offering support and encouragement. Animated team managers further added to the lively atmosphere.
The games progressed to the knockout stages, which were filled with thrilling moments, impressive resilience, skillful goals, penalty shootouts, and match-winning saves. There was also some great sportsmanship and unity demonstrated in the games, with one team even willing to give their opposing team a player to have a full squad for their game due to injuries on that team!
Once the knockout stages concluded, the finals of each category took place on the main pitch. After a tight start to the final in the Ghanshyam Cup, South East London C had started to counterattack efficiently and eventually were 3-0 winners against a valiant Watford A.
In the Nilkanth Cup final, where Watford B played with good possession and Leicester C were strong defensively, Watford B eventually broke down the defence, scoring two goals to secure the win!
The final match of the day was played in the Pramukh Cup, where Manchester B and Birmingham A were contesting for the coveted prize. Both teams had great players on show, but with some great attacking play and teamwork, Birmingham A scored two excellent goals to win the final 2-0.
The event concluded with a closing ceremony in front of the Neasden Temple Summer Fair crowd. Awards were presented to teams and players, and a summary of the tournament highlighted the sportsmanship and teamwork displayed throughout the day. With over 250 goals scored, the Pramukh Cup was a thoroughly enjoyable event for both players and spectators, celebrating the spirit of unity and sportsmanship.
Below is a summary of the awards:
| Cup (Age Group) | Winners | Runners Up |
| Ghanshyam Cup (6-8) | South East London C | Watford A |
| Nilkanth Cup (9-11) | Watford B | Leicester C |
| Pramukh Cup (12-14) | Birmingham A | Manchester B |
