Football clubs demand ‘public clarification’; call to boycott sports activities organised by AR
Kohima, November 1 (MExN): Following the alleged ‘raid’ conducted by the 1st Assam Rifles in the residence of Roko Angami in the wee hours of October 30, Nagaland based football clubs and organisations have expressed condemnation.
NBC: The Naga Boys Club (NBC) in its condemnation note said, “it is quite disheartening when a concerned and law abiding citizen like Roko Angami who professes and gives his best for the community to propagate peace through football amongst the society is victimized by the Indian Army without any concrete evidences, and authenticity.
“This has traumatized him and his family members and this act of sedition should be condemned in the condemning the high treason perpetrated by the Assam rifle, we also call upon all sections of the Naga Society to abhor and condemn this contemptible act of the Indian Army,” Media Cell, NBC stated.
Meanwhile, the Club has demanded “public clarification from the Assam Rifles as to who provided them this false information to tarnish his reputation, this is a pure act of character assassination and we seek justice for the humiliation and damage done to Roko Angami and his family.”
It also made an appeal to all clubs and sports persons of the state to extend solidarity and “restrain yourselves from attending any sports activities organised by the Assam Rifles until Justice is served to one of our sports icon.”
The club has also highlighted that Roko Angami, the founder and Chief Coach of Naga Boys Club — a permanent football club since 1999 is an acclaimed and reputed football player who has represented the Indian Nation, Nagaland State and Maharashtra State at various football tournaments and trophies, he was the first Naga footballer to play in the first Indian Premier League while playing for Mahindra United Club, Mumbai, he is also the first President of Nagaland Football Coaches Association (NFCA) , and the first Technical Director of Nagaland Premier League.
He coached the Assam Rifles’ Football team at Kohima in the year 2001-2002. He is also the recipient of International Footballer Awards at North East India Sports Conference by International Sports Coalition (ISC) on November 5, 2004; he was nominated “Padma Shree Award” in 2010 by the State Government. Apart from his career as a football player and a coach he is also involved in many civil society organisations and has contributed much for the society at large.
FAPD: The Football Association Phek District (FAPD) said it is shocked by the highhanded action of the 1st Assam Rifles. “The double standard of the Assam Rifles who on one hand are organising State level sports tournaments (football and basketball), and harassing a top football coach and well respected sportsman on the other hand is highly condemnable,” it stated.
The Association has urged the concerned authority to take necessary action, “failing which the football fraternity of Nagaland in solidarity should completely boycott the AR organized football tournament in the State for the safety and integrity of our football players and officials.”
MYO: Mengujuma Youth Organisation (MYO) condemned the act of the 1st Assam Rifles who ‘raided’ the house of Roko Angami “on just mere suspicion and misinformation obtained from their so called- Spy or Intelligence and started raiding his house.”
MYO in its statement said, “the Assam Rifles, who claimed themselves as the “Friends of the Hill people” is highly condemnable and cannot tolerate, because just basing on the wrong information obtained from their intelligence and harassing the ‘Innocent peace loving Citizens’ again and again.”
While condemning the incident, the MYO demanded “public clarification” from Assam Rifles and justice for humiliation and damaged done to Roko Anagami.
It also condemned the Officer-Incharge who led the troops and committed the act in particular and appealed to the Assam Rifles in general, “to verify the information/report thoroughly before taking any action so that in future the innocent peace loving citizens will not be the victims of the so called- Friends of the Hill People.”
AFC: The Aphuyemi Football Club (AFC), condemned the “blatant and irresponsible action” of the AR who allegedly “broke into the private residence” of Roko. While condemning the incident, AFC demanded “public clarification and apology from the Assam Rifles.” The club stated that Roko is a football icon of Nagaland who has been promoting Football and selflessly works for the development of Sports. Calling upon all the right thinking citizens to condemn the action of Assam Rifles, the club also appealed the authority to book the erring personal.
