Our Correspondent Kohima | May 1 Nagaland Home Minister Y. Patton today said that Nagas in the field of football were second to none if we are to reflect football history of India. Addressing the inaugural function of “OORJA- CAPF’s Under-19 Football Talent Hunt Tournament here at Kohima Local Ground, he recalled Dr. T. Ao, the first captain of Indian football team in 1963 at London Olympics. He said India is going to host U-17 FIFA World Cup in the month of October 2017 for the first time, and for which Prime Minister Narendra Modi has planned to conduct nationwide football tournament, called the “OORJA- CAPF’s Under -19 Football Talent Hunt Tournament”, with the vision of reaching out to the entire country in identifying potential budding young football players of the country. “The objective of the tournament is to be part of Mission XI Million, and in imbibing more passion and creating more platforms for the young football enthusiast of India,” he said. In Nagaland, he said the 9th Assam Rifles is conducting the talent tournament, keeping up the mission of the Prime Minister. He also informed that the 9th Assam Rifles which was posted in Kohima since 2015 is based in two districts of Nagaland, i.e., Kohima and Phek district and it operates under the command of Maj. Gen. Sanjay Gupta, IGAR (North). “Over the years, it has initiated numerous civic action programmes for the welfare of Naga people. Apart from civic action programme it also conducts pre-recruitment trainings for the youth of Nagaland,” he said adding that one significant service of 9th Assam Rifles for the youth of Nagaland is conducting football tournament every year in memory of late Capt. N. Kengurusie at Kohima. He noted that Nagaland team at sub-junior and junior levels are doing “exceptionally well”. Nagaland under- 14 teams were the champions of Subroto Cup in the year 2008 (National) and 2012, 2014 (International) champion. Even in the year 2015, Under-13 Nagaland team represented India at South Korea in the Asian Youth Football Fiesta, where they stood runners-up. At the senior level, the North East Games, which was held in the month of March –April 2016 at Manipur, Nagaland football team lifted the champion trophy. “Unfortunately, we fail to notice any Naga boys from Nagaland playing at major national clubs, be it at I- League or Indian Super League, whereas our neighboring counterparts states like Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya and Mizoram are producing skilled players making their niche even at the national teams,” Patton said. He was optimistic that with the kind of talent hunt initiated by 9th Assam Rifles and the platform provided for young Naga football players, it would have a huge impact for the Naga players in getting more exposure and opportunities in exhibiting their talents and may elevate them further into higher ground. Altogether, 16 teams are taking part in this tournament which will conclude on May 8. Matches for boys are being held at Kohima Local Ground while the girls are playing at Indira Gandhi Stadium. In today’s matches, State Boys Hostel overwhelmed KV Kohima 6-0 in boys’ category while in the girls’ category, Christ King Higher Secondary School beat KV Dimapur by a comfortable 3-0 margin.
