Young participants at the ongoing Girls’ Football Training Camp organized by the Peren District Football Association (PDFA) at Turf Ground, Jalukie. (Photo Courtesy: PDFA)
PDFA’s football coaching camp for girls underway in Jalukie
Rebecca Kits Jakhalu
Kohima | April 24
As evening approaches, 18-year-old Wichengjailiu tightens the laces on her football boots, her excitement evident as she joins her friends at the football camp in Jalukie Town.
Wicheng joins a list of 40 girls who have enlisted for the ‘Girls’ football training & Tournament Opportunity’ campbeing hosted by the Peren District Football Association (PDFA) at Turf Ground, Jalukie Town. The camp has been organised in a bid to promote football among young women in the region, and is being led by PDFA Women Coordinator, Kereluipeule, and Coach Luihingbe.
For Wicheng, this is not just a camp or training, but a chance to pursue her dream as a footballer. “I am really grateful to the PDFA and I hope more of such camps will be organised in the future and more girls like me will avail the opportunity,” she says.
This initiative aims to encourage girls’ participation in the sport, and provide opportunities and exposure to talented girls in our district, Coach Luihingbe told The Morung Express on Thursday.
“Nagaland has limited representation in women’s football, with no players from the state in the Indian Women’s Football League. However, we are working to change this by promoting girls’ football and providing opportunities for them to develop their skills. Our goal is to encourage and nurture talented young girls in Nagaland to pursue football careers,” he added.
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The PDFA, in its efforts to develop football in the district, has been organizing various tournaments and training camps. Earlier, in 2024, a similar camp was organised for girls in the district, he informed.
With participants as young as 8 years old, this year’s girls’ football camp is a step forward in providing a platform for young women to hone their skills and potentially participate in larger tournaments.
The primary objective of the camp is to identify and nurture talent among young girls in Peren district. By providing professional coaching and training, the PDFA aims to equip these young players with the skills and confidence necessary to compete at higher levels. The camp also seeks to promote a culture of sportsmanship and teamwork among the participants.
Other key highlights of the camp include tactical and technical sessions, goalkeeper training, life lessons, completion certificate and tournament opportunity.
On being asked about the ‘tournament opportunity’ aspect of the camp, Coach Luihingbe said that the participants would be trained and handpicked from the camp to represent the district in any future tournament or events.
The camp’s training sessions are designed to cater to the diverse age group of participants. Coach Luihingbe works closely with the girls, focusing on developing their technical skills, physical fitness, and tactical awareness.
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Unlike their male counterparts, who have been part of local tournaments, clubs, and even district-level coaching from an early age, most of the girls come with little or no formal training. Their limited exposure poses a challenge, but Coach Luihingbe is determined to address this. The training sessions are structured to ensure that each participant receives personalized attention and guidance, he shared. He also appreciated the PDFA for its constant support and dedication towards the growth of football in the region.
“I aways liked football, but started seriously pursuing the sport only in 2023. Now I am 18 and I wish we had these opportunities sooner. But thanks to such initiatives from the PDFA, hopefully, the younger generation of girls will not have to fight so hard just to play the game they love,” Wicheng concluded.
The camp kickstarted on April 14 and will continue to be held from Monday to Saturday from 3:00 pm under the theme, ‘Empowering Girl Champions, Promoting Girls’ Development in our District’.
