The four days tournament hosted by Chumoukedima District Football Association (CDFA), and organized by Nagaland Football Association (NFA), this is the 3rd edition of the Futsal championship in the state.
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
Nyenshen FC Tuensang on Friday evening took the title of the 3rd Nagaland State Futsal championship 2023 by defeating Lengreng FC Peren by 5:2 in an exciting match witnessed by the many of residents of Chumoukedima and beyond held at JJ Arena, Chumoukedima
Former governor of Maharashtra and Goa, and also veteran politician of Nagaland, who has the distinction of holding the chair of chief minister of Nagaland for many decades, Dr SC Jamir, also paid a visit and interacted with the organizers and the players (finalists) before the start of the match.
Speaking before the start of the final match between the two FCs, Nagaland Industrial Development Corporation (NIDC), chairman, Kyulo Lorin, who was the guest of honour, lauded the organizer, Chumoukedima District Football Association (CDFA) for hosting the championship and the Nagaland Football Association (NFA) for assisting the organizer in making the championship which started on October 17 a grand success.
Nyenshen FC Tuensang will now get direct entry into the national Futsal finals (championship) to be held sometime in the month of December this year or January next year.
Lorin, while lauding the talented players stated that to be a winner in life, a team spirit has to be inculcated while also mentioning that whether losing or winning, the game is not the end of the day but each person has a role to play irrespective of a minor, a father, a mother, or a child.
He also went on to add that in order to be a good player or an ambassador through the medium of sports, support from every corner including from team members is necessitated for which he encouraged the players to be disciplined in life.
Terming that Futsal sports is very new to the Nagas, Lorin however mentioned that offlate, the Futsal players from Nagaland have inked their presence felt by participating not only in state wise competitions but nationally thereby bringing laurels home in this particular sports too.
It may be pertinent to mention that the four days tournament hosted by the Chumoukedima District Football Association (CDFA), and organized by the Nagaland Football Association (NFA), the Futsal championship in the state was into its 3rd editions, and organizing the tournament was so important keeping in mind the important factors which the Nagas players are suitable for the game while also keeping in mind to their agile, very fast, and a skillful game (s) which they had adapted.
Meanwhile, talking to this correspondent, senior vice-president, NFA, Kiyeka S Sumi, shared that basically the championship which culminated on Friday would be a qualifying stage for the national finals keeping in mind that there is no other tournament in the country where the state champion gets direct entry into the national finals.
Kiyeka said that though there are many promising young football players in the state but added that Futsal in the state is still developing and still in nascent stage yet he was glad to know that many futsal courts have flourished especially in the districts of Dimapur, Chumoukedima, and Kohima, while also hoping that the rest remaining districts of the state follow suit.
“We at the NFA along with our district FAs are trying our best to channelize everything. We have talents, so, trying to let these talents grow into a refined talent where the Naga boys could play along with the players from the rest”, he maintained while also adding that if the state has good players, they could be accommodated into good Clubs.
Mentioning that sports especially football is an “spectator’s sport” which has a huge potential for the Naga youths, the NFA vice-president lamented that in the course of times, “narrowmindedness” with sports amongst the Naga society has led the many talented young Naga lads not picking up sports as a profession.
However, he insisted and was optimistic that if taken professionally, football would be such a “good profession” though retirement is early.
Earlier, the programme chaired by advisor, CDFA, Sedevikho T Angami, started with an invocation by pastor, International Prayer Centre Church, Seluophe, Chumoukedima, Nusoteu Zao, a special number was belted out by Vitsonu Sothu, while convenor of the organizing team and CDFA vice-president, Imlisunup Ao, proposed the word of gratitude.
CDFA was formed only last year (2022) in the month of April, under the guidance of NFA and though in its nascent stage, the association has the distinction of taking part in many of the major tournaments being organized last year and this year too.
16 Clubs representing different districts of the state had vied for the Rs 1 Lakh (Champion), and Rs 50,000 (Runner-up) in the tournament along with other individual awards and trophies.
The 16 clubs included Chumoukedima SC, Lengreng FC (Peren), Mighty Wolves (Zunheboto), Lazers FC (Wokha), Proper V (Mon), Tribals United (Dimapur), Nimok Power (Phek), Unica (Kohima), Nyenshen (Tuensang), Vanguard (Tsemninyu), Phomli Frontrunner FC (Longleng), Young Boys FC (Niuland), Royal FC (Shamatore), Medziphema Royals (Chumoukedima), Dimapur SC (Dimapur), and Black Pearls (Kohima).
DPC locked horn with CDFA at an exhibition futsal match; ends in tie
Following the 3rd Nagaland State Futsal Championship 2023 which started since October 17 and to be culminated on Friday evening, hosted by the Chumoukedima District Football Association (CDFA), a “neck to neck” exhibition match between the Dimapur Press Club (DPC), and the Nagaland Football Association (NFA) both garnering four goals each.
Before the limited time, the DPC boosted in facing its opponent through a “quick” goal in the initial stage followed by another which was well received by the spectators, but the same was equalized by its opponent, the CDFA in the match through their “tactics”.
With participants representing almost the many districts within the state of Nagaland, the 3rd Nagaland State Futsal Championship 2023 at the JJ Arena, Chumoukedima, which was attended by advisor, Urban Development Affairs, Nagaland, Zhaleo Rio, as the special guest on the inaugural day, October 17, will see the Nagaland Football Association (NFA) senior vice-president, Kiyeka S Sumi, enlightening on the 3rd editions of the tournament.
Committed to its earlier declaration that the championship is “important”, the finals scheduled for Friday evening at JJ Arena. Chumoukedima, it was also disclosed that the
Informing that this 3rd state Futsal championship will be a “ticket” for the futsal players to the national championship to be held either in the month of December this year or proposed tournament is basically would be a qualifying stage for the national finals to be held next year where the state champion will get a direct entry to the national finals.
16 Clubs representing different districts of the state are vying for the Rs 1 Lakh (Champion), and Rs 50,000 (Runner-up) in the tournament along with other individual awards and trophies.