Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, also former NCA President, taking the ceremonial swing with the bat at the newly opened Sovima Cricket Ground pitch on October 8 in Dimapur. (Morung Photo by Manen Aier)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 8
Nagaland appears to be gradually ramping up its cricket infrastructure even though it may be confined to Dimapur. After the 12,000 capacity Nagaland Cricket Stadium at Sovima, Dimapur, Nagaland will now have a second – Sovima Cricket Ground (SCG) – with a well maintained pitch courtesy the Nagaland Cricket Association (NCA).
Located in a picturesque green setting in Sovima, less than 2km west of the main stadium, the SCG will serve as an auxiliary pitch, besides having the capacity to host matches sanctioned by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), as per the NCA.
The ground was inaugurated on October 8 by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who served as the first NCA president post BCCI affiliation.
Rio dedicated the new ground to the youth, especially sports enthusiasts, while stating that it would serve to motivate young and upcoming cricketers in the state. According to him, cricket in Nagaland, under the guidance of the NCA, has come a long way since the days when the state association struggled to put together a team, let alone win matches and the ever present shortage of funds. Those days, he added that for a lack of in-state players, the association had to look for players from other states to build a full-strength team.
He recalled that a number of factors – including but not limited to full-fledged affiliation of the NCA to the BCCI, Lodha Commission reforms and the coming of former BCCI President and also Union Minister Sharad Pawar – combined to lead cricket in Nagaland to what it is today.
Terming it a “collective effort,” he said that the NCA “old guard” has done its job but would continue to support the young brigade.
He also announced that a third cricket ground, located within 1km radius of the main stadium would be ready within a year. This, he said, would strengthen the prospect of hosting even international matches.
On the prospect of homegrown cricketing talent, he challenged the youth to prove it and on that note, he emphasised the need to begin early from a “tender age.”
NCA President, Kechangulie Rio expressed hope that the opening of the second NCA ground would attract new talent and enable the sport to grow in Nagaland. He reminded that the NCA is also investing in developing women’s cricket and has conducted as many as 42 coaching camps in the state.
Abu Metha, former NCA General Secretary and currently Member Secretary of the Northeast Cricket Development Committee (comprising Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim), while echoing Rio, reminisced the struggle of going through the grind of gaining BCCI affiliation and subsequent evolution of professional cricket in Nagaland.
He recalled how, over a decade back, Rio reluctantly agreed to serve as NCA president on the request of cricket enthusiasts.
According to Metha, within a few years into Rio’s tenure, the foundation stone for the Nagaland Cricket Stadium was laid, which eventually brought Nagaland in the cricket map.
