Officials and others during the inauguration of a match officiating centre at Sovima Cricket Ground, Chümoukedima on March 28. (Photo Courtesy: NCA)
DIMAPUR, MARCH 28 (MExN): Nagaland Cricket Association (NCA) inaugurated a match officiating centre at the Sovima Cricket Ground (SCG) in Chümoukedima on March 28. The centre was inaugurated by Kechangulie Rio, NCA Honorary President. In his speech, Rio said that the need for an officiating centre was due and has finally been fulfilled. The SCG is one of two venues which will host the 1st North East Cricket Development Committee (NECDC) Friendship Senior Men’s tournament (One Day International) from March 29 to April 3.
While welcoming the participating teams of the tournament, Rio said that the SCG, as the second cricket ground in the state, has been playing a pivotal role in training cricketers besides hosting local and since its inception.
He added that SCG will go a long way in grooming budding cricketers and thanked the Sovima Village Council leasing the land for the ground for a lease period of 35 years, which he added will ultimately benefit the NCA in promoting Cricket in the state. While stating that the opening of the match officiating centre will ensure the smooth conduct of tournaments and trainings at the ground, he recalled that the first-ever Women’s T-20 tournament in the state was played at the SCG and a conditioning camp for the NorthEast zonal team for Duleep trophy was also conducted there.
\The NCA Honorary Secretary, Hyunilo Anilo Khing expressed gratitude to the BCCI for funding the project and making it into a reality for the overall growth of Cricket in the state.
Sebastian Zumvü, Chairman, Sovima Village Council, welcomed all the players and officials of the six states to Sovima village. He was hopeful that in the near future, they will have larger and bigger tournaments and during that time Sovima Village Council will always oblige to help. Dedicatory prayer was pronounced by Pastor Zhau Sanchu Associate Pastor, CRC, Sovima.
Meanwhile, NCA invited cricket fans to witness the 1st NECDC Interstate Friendship Senior Men's Tournament. The tournament will feature teams from six Northeastern states, including Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Sikkim. The matches will be played at two different venues, the Nagaland Cricket Stadium and Sovima Cricket Ground, with the first match scheduled for March 29.
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