NorthEast United FC envisions day boarding schools in Nagaland

GUWAHATI — Chief Executive Officer of the NorthEast United Football Club (NEUFC), Mandar Tamhane, on Thursday said that at least 15 day boarding academies across the eight Northeastern states including Nagaland will be set up in the next five years.

Tamhane, who was appointed the CEO of NEUFC earlier in May, disclosed the club’s plans at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati on Tnursday.

He said the project was needed to clear the pathway and train players from a young age.

In Nagaland state, Kohima and Dimapur has been identified for implementation of the project including Indira Gandhi Stadium, L Viluo Turf, PRO turf and Reiphinyu Badze turf.

The boarding schools will focus on children under-seven, nine and under 11. Setting up of the centres in each of the states will ensure that children do not leave home. The children can come to the centres as well as go back home for study, he said.

‘We will have different centres and the best passed-out (from the boarding centres) children of under 11 will be put up into the residential academies, which will be based in Shillong. The residential will have under-13, under-15 and under-17 for the boys’, Tamhane added.

Project implementation will depend on the availability of infrastructure, a good ground and quality coach and priority will be set on those criteria and not statewise. He also disclosed that the first few centres will be set up in Assam after the ISL 2023-2024 season.

By the end of May 2024, the club should be in a position to start at least three or four centres, he said.

The club has already identified some places in all the eight NE states.

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