Football Plus Academy, Jalukie defeated Kingdom Stewards FC, Jalukie 1-0 to win the Jalukie edition of the U-16 ASMITA football league. (Photo Courtesy: PDFA)
Morung Express News
Jalukie | August 29
The U-16 ASMITA(Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women through Action) Football League for Women 2026–27 was held on August 29.
The ASMITA Football League, under the ASMITA (Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women through Action) programme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India, is aimed at promoting women’s football at the grassroots level by providing young girls with regular opportunities to compete, develop their skills and gain valuable match experience. The Jalukie edition witnessed participation from six teams, with young women footballers representing different parts of Nagaland.
Kingdom Stewards FC, Peren Town, New Jalukie were teams in Pool-A while Pool-B teams included Northern Zeme, Football Plus Academy and JNV Jalukie.
The final match was a closely contested encounter between Football Plus Academy, Jalukieand Kingdom Stewards FC, Jalukie. A solitary goal proved decisive as Football Plus Academy, Jalukie emerged victorious, securing a narrow 1–0 victory.
Organised by the Peren District Football Association (PDFA), the league was played at the Turf Ground, Jalukie, Peren, as per the direction of the Nagaland Football Association (NFA), in collaboration with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Khelo India, a statement from the PDFA President informed on Saturday. It may be noted that, besides providing a competitive platform for emerging players, the league also served as a selection trial for the Nagaland State team for the Dr. Talimeren Ao Junior Girls' National Football Championship 2026–27, scheduled to be held from September 10 to October 7, 2026 in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, and Narainpur, Chhattisgarh, according to the statement. The player selection process was conducted by officials and coaches deputed by the NFA during the league. The initiative provided an important platform for identifying promising young talent and strengthening the pool of players for the state team, the PDFA President stated.
Earlier, the NFA had issued a notification in which it informed that the league will be organised across four zones covering multiple districts. Zone -1 will have Kohima, Tseminyu, Phekand Meluri, Zone -2 districts include Chümoukedima, Dimapur, Niuland and Peren while Zone-3 districts are Mokokchung, Wokha, Zunheboto and Longleng. Tuensang, Noklak, Kiphire, Shamator and Mon are under Zone -4.
According to the NFA notification, the competition is open to girls born on or after January 1, 2011, and on or before December 31, 2012.
