Nagaland Football Association wins special award at AIFF Awards Day

Morung Express News
Kohima | May 3

The Nagaland Football Association (NFA) won the “Special Award for Member Association launching New Projects” alongside Kerala FA in the AIFF Awards Day 2025.

The award function was held in the Odisha capital, Bhubaneswar, on the eve of the Kalinga Super Cup 2025 final on May 2.

The recognition for Nagaland comes after a successful first edition of the Nagaland Super League which concluded on April 1.

At the award ceremony, the NFA was represented by its President and AIFF Executive Member, K. Neibou Sekhose and Vice-President Mughato Aye.

“We give all glory and honour to Almighty God for this award. We are deeply grateful to the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Dr.Neiphiu Rio for his all-out support and encouragement. Our gratitude to the YRS Department, GoN& NOA led by its Secretary General, Shri. Abu Metha. This award is dedicated to the people of Nagaland, especially to all football players & fans,” K. Neibou Sekhose (President, NFA & Executive Member, AIFF) wrote.

“Congratulations to Nagaland Football and to all its stakeholders for making this possible through the concerted efforts,” the NFA also wrote on its official Instagram account on May 3.

The award, shared with the Kerala Football Association, is a national recognition of the NFA’s bold strides in football development, with the launch and success of the Nagaland Super League serving as the defining achievement, the NSL stated in its press release on May 3.
Stating that the award is not just a milestone for the NFA, the NSL team added that it is a celebration of the entire Nagaland football family. This recognition belongs to every person who believes in the power of football to transform Nagaland, it said.

“As the competitive face of the NFA’s broader vision, the Nagaland Super League is honoured to be at the forefront of this journey. This award reaffirms our shared mission--to build a sustainable inclusive, and inspiring football future for Nagaland,” it concluded.

“The Nagaland Super League @NSLOfficial2024 makes all of us Proud. Nagaland wins the Special Award for New Project by the All India Football Federation @IndianFootball. All the collective hard work pays off as the nation recognises our efforts. Congratulations Nagaland Football and congratulations to all the stakeholders- from the players to the teams to the fans to every individual who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. The Football Narrative has changed. Football will never be the same again,” Athletic Federation of India vice-president, Nagaland Olympic Association (NOA) secretary general and member of NSL’s governing body, Abu Methatweeted on May 2.

Subhasish Bose and Soumya Guguloth were named the AIFF Best Men’s and Women’s Players of the Year 2024-25. Other individual award winners were Khalid Jamil (Best Men’s Coach), Sujata Kar (Best Women’s Coach), Vishal Kaith (Best Men’s Goalkeeper), Elangbam Panthoi Chanu (Best Women’s Goalkeeper), Brison Fernandes (Promising Men’s Player), Toijam Thoibisana Chanu (Promising Women’s Player), Venkatesh R (Best Male Referee), Tekcham Ranjita Devi (Best Female Referee), Vairamuthu P (Best Male Assistant Referee), and Riiohlang Dhar (Best Female Assistant Referee).

According to an update from the All India Football Federation (AIFF),  dignitaries present along with AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, wereKanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Deputy Chief Minister, Odisha, Suryabanshi Suraj, Minister, Higher Education, Sports and Youth Services, Odia Language Literature and Culture, Bhaskar Sarma, IAS, Principal Secretary, IAS, Sports and Youth Services Dept, Govt of Odisha, Manoj Ahuja, IAS, Chief Secretary, Govt of Odisha, and Tankadhar Tripathy, President, Football Association of Odisha. AIFF top brass, including the Executive Committee, and representatives from the respective state Member Associations were present at the awards.

List of all AIFF Award Winners for 2024-25:

• Men’s Player of the Year: Subhasish Bose
• Women’s Player of the Year: Soumya Guguloth
• Promising Men’s Player of the Year: Brison Fernandes
• Promising Women’s Player of the Year: Toijam Thoibisana Chanu
• Best Men’s Goalkeeper: Vishal Kaith
• Best Women’s Goalkeeper: Elangbam Panthoi Chanu
• Men’s Coach of the Year: Khalid Jamil
• Women’s Coach of the Year: Sujata Kar
• Male Referee of the Year: Venkatesh R
• Male Assistant Referee of the Year: Vairamuthu P
• Female Referee of the Year: Tekcham Ranjita Devi
• Female Assistant Referee of the Year: Riiohlang Dhar
• President’s special honour for coaching excellence: Ranjan Chowdhury
• Most Successful MA (Club Competitions): Indian Football Association (West Bengal)
• Most Successful MA (NFC Competitions): All Manipur Football Association and Indian Football Association (West Bengal)
• Best MA for hosting most AIFF competitions: Assam Football Association, Indian Football Association (West Bengal) and Karnataka State Football Association
• MA with most player registrations (men’s): Western India Football Association (Maharashtra)
• MA with most player registrations (women’s): Western India Football Association (Maharashtra)
• Special Award for MA launching new projects: Kerala Football Association and Nagaland Football Association
• MA with most Grassroots activities: Western India Football Association (Maharashtra)
• MA with most Coaching courses: Punjab Football Association
• MA with most Refereeing courses: Kerala Football Association