Pre-Subroto-cum-Junior Football Tournament begins

KOHIMA — The state-level Pre-Subroto-cum-Junior Football Tournament, organised by the Department of Youth Resources and Sports (DYRS) in collaboration with the Nagaland Football Association (NFA), commenced on Wednesday at Indira Gandhi Stadium (IGS) in Kohima.

MLA Benei M Lamthiu, who is also the general secretary of the Nagaland Football Association (NFA), attended the inaugural session as the guest of honour.

Speaking on the occasion, Lamthiu emphasised that gone are the days when sports, including football, were considered mere hobbies. He asserted that in the modern world, football has evolved into a global industry.

He urged young footballers and sports enthusiasts to take sports seriously and view it not just as a hobby but as a potential career. Lamthiu highlighted that sports also offer numerous career opportunities beyond just being an athlete or footballer, such as team manager, physiotherapist, masseur, sports analyst, and sports presenter, among others.

He further said that the NFA has been diligently working to promote and uplift sports in the state of Nagaland and encouraged the players to embody the true spirit of sportsmanship, urging them to display their skills, foster friendships, and bring out the best in themselves.

Match updates

On the first day of the boys U-15 matches, in Pool A, Peren secured a victory against Longleng. In Pool B, Wokha emerged victorious over Tseminyu, while Nuiland received a walkover win against Tuensang.

Meanwhile, in Pool C, Chümoukedima emerged victorious against Kohima, and Dimapur prevailed over Shamator district. In Pool D, Kiphire district defeated Zunheboto, and Mon registered a win against Phek.

On day 2, Chümoukedima will face off against Dimapur in the first match, starting at 7 am. The final match of the day will be played between Shamator and Kohima at 6 pm.