Participants of a Futsal tournament at Meriema.
Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 10
In an age when young people are increasingly drawn toward screens and sedentary lifestyles, Meriema village in Kohima district is quietly building a strong culture of sports, community participation and healthy competition.
Football, particularly futsal, has become an important part of this growing sporting culture, bringing together players of different generations and creating a space where experience, youth and community spirit come together.
One of the most encouraging aspects of Meriema’s football scene is the continued participation of veterans of the game. Several football veterans from the village regularly turn up to play, including Neidilhou Keditsu, Avilie Keditsu, Kevileu Phewhuo, Neiphrezolie Üsou, Kekhriengulie Üsou, Medophrezo Kezieo and Akuo Ciesotsu.
Among them is Neidilhou Keditsu, Director of Economics and Statistics, Government of Nagaland, whose participation reflects the way football in Meriema cuts across professions and generations.
The presence of experienced players alongside younger participants not only keeps the veterans connected to the sport but also provides younger players with an opportunity to learn from those who have spent years on the field.
A tournament that brought the community together.
The village has also recently hosted a futsal tournament featuring eight teams divided into two groups.
Group A consisted of Arche FC, Fearless FC, Sorkari and Phutani Kotha Nohoi, while Group B featured Hamo Nhiemo, BD FC, King Hornet and Chii Ro Chii.
After a competitive tournament, Phutani Kotha Nohoi emerged as the champions, adding another chapter to Meriema’s growing football culture.
More than simply determining a winner, tournaments such as these provide an opportunity for players to compete, spectators to gather and the wider community to share in a common interest.
They also created a platform for local talent that might otherwise have limited opportunities to participate in organised competition.
Tuesdays are for football
An example of Meriema’s commitment to maintaining a regular sporting environment can be seen every Tuesday at L Viluo FIFA Pro Turf, Vilietsa, Meriema.
Weekly games are organised at the turf, attracting more than 100 players and spectators. The regular turnout has turned Tuesday football into more than just a game—it has become a recurring community gathering centred around sport.
Players come together to compete, while friends, families and fellow football enthusiasts watch from the sidelines. The regular nature of these games is particularly significant because a healthy sporting culture is built not only through occasional tournaments, but through consistent participation and access to places where people can play.
For younger players, such an environment can be especially valuable. Regular games provide opportunities to develop skills, fitness, discipline and teamwork, while also encouraging healthy competition and camaraderie.
More than just football
Meriema’s experience demonstrates how a village can promote sports without needing to make it complicated. Regular games, community tournaments and the willingness of experienced players to continue participating can collectively create an environment where sport becomes a natural part of everyday life.
The participation of veterans alongside younger players is also an encouraging sign of continuity. Rather than separating generations, football provides a common ground where players can compete together, share experiences and keep the sporting tradition alive.
As Meriema continues to organise regular futsal activities and tournaments, its example shows what can happen when a community embraces sport as part of its culture.
With over 100 people gathering on a typical Tuesday and local tournaments providing competitive opportunities, Meriema is proving that promoting sports can begin at the grassroots level.
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