District Sports Officer, Chumoukedima, Wutsutho addressing during the inaugural programme of the Inter-School Pre-Subroto Cup Cluster- 1 Football Tournament.
CHUMOUKEDIMA, JUNE 23 (MExN): The Inter-School Pre-Subroto Cup Cluster-1 Football Tournament, organised by the Department of Youth Resources and Sports in collaboration with the Nagaland Football Association, commenced Monday at the Chumoukedima Football Stadium. The tournament, which will run until June 26, features 12 schools competing in under-15 boys and under-17 girls categories from across the district.
Addressing the inaugural programme, Wutsutho, District Sports Officer, Chumoukedima, welcomed dignitaries including the District Youth Resources Officer, Vice President of the Nagaland Football Association, President of Dimapur District Football Association, football coaches, members of the Chumoukedima District Football Referee Association, media representatives, teachers, and parents.
Wutsutho highlighted that the state-level tournament is being conducted in two clusters—Cluster-1 in Chumoukedima and Cluster-2 at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima. Altogether, 28 schools are participating across the two clusters: 17 in the under-15 boys category and nine in the under-17 girls category. The Chumoukedima cluster features 10 under-15 boys’ teams and two under-17 girls’ teams.
The top two under-15 boys’ teams from Cluster-1 will face off against their Cluster-2 counterparts in Kohima on June 30. In the under-17 girls’ category, the best team from Cluster-1 will join the final selection match on July 1 at IG Stadium. A total of 12 matches will be played in Cluster-1.
Encouraging the young players, Wutsutho said the tournament offers a vital platform for aspiring footballers to showcase their talent and potentially attract the attention of major clubs at both state and national levels. “If you perform exceptionally, big clubs may take notice and extend invitations,” he said.
He further informed that the winners of the state-level tournament will represent Nagaland at the national-level Subroto Cup tournament in New Delhi this August. The Department will bear the expenses for uniforms, jerseys, shorts, boots and other gear for the selected teams.
Expressing gratitude to the principals, headmasters, and teachers-in-charge, Wutsutho said the department looks forward to continued support and participation from schools in the years ahead.
The programme was chaired by N. Viniekholie, District Youth Resources Officer, with invocation by Sports Coach Khriezotuonuo Theunuo. Kevicasier Savino, Physical Instructor, led the oath-taking ceremony.
The inaugural match saw Bethel Baptist School, Niuland take on Christian School, Molvom in the under-15 boys category.
