Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct 07: As part of the 72nd Wildlife Week, 2026, South Andaman Forest Division organized the Wildlife Week Cup – 2026, an open-to-all knockout football tournament aimed at spreading awareness on wildlife and nature conservation among the youth and general public through the popular medium of football.
The tournament commenced on 24.09.2026 with participation of 22 teams, playing 21 matches in 13 days with a cumulative footfall of around 3500 spectators from 11 Gram Panchayats. Teams from Diglipur, Baratang and Sri Vijaya Puram also participated in the tournament, thereby providing a wide platform to spread the message of Wildlife Conservation.
The tournament carried the message “Team Up for Wildlife”, highlighting that just as success in football depends on teamwork, wildlife conservation also requires the collective participation of communities, institutions and individuals. The entire tournament was conducted in a peaceful and sporting atmosphere, promoting discipline, teamwork and mutual respect.
The Grand Finale was held on, 7th October 2026, at the Mini Stadium, Wimberlygunj, between War Boys (MVFC) and United Sporting Club. Dr. S. Dinesh Kannan, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests (Territorial)/(R&WP)/(D&U)/(Wildlife), graced the occasion and witnessed the final. After an exciting match, United Sporting Club emerged as the winners, while War Boys (MVFC) were the runners-up.
The tournament provided an engaging platform to connect with local communities and youth while conveying the important message that wildlife conservation is a shared responsibility and that everyone has a role to play in protecting nature.
