Three representatives from Nagaland including two girls and a coach Holshe Kherieo, would be representing the country in an international Sepaktakraw championship to be held from July 1.
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
Despite facing financial constraints, the department of youth resources and sports, Nagaland, on Monday has categorically admitted that it would leave no stone unturned in spotting Naga sporting talents in representing the country in international sporting events.
She was speaking at the Greenwood School ground, Kuda village, Dimapur, as special guest during the final match of interschool under 14 invitational football trophy match played between Greenwood school and Pilgrim school, Dimapur.
The invitational tournament was organized under the “Khelo India Centre”, supported by the central government to identify sporting talents where 12 schools from within Dimapur participated. Akumla highlighted that the departments’ objective was to form a team to represent the state in Subroto Cup where players from Greenwood school, Kuda Village, Dimapur, has made the state proud by clinching the runners-up position and the champion since the year 2007, 2012, 2014 and 2015 respectively.
Lauding the school for spotting “world class” young talents in the field of sports specially in football, the director also stated that the department has decided to let the school organize such tournament in order pick the young players from the team to represent the state for the national under 14 Subroto Cup.
She also disclosed that her department identified the school due to its record in “excelling in football” and continue the same “tradition”, targeting to bring the prestigious Cup again to the state.
While also stating that initially the tournament was within the confinement of Dimapur district, Akumla said that with more sports enthusiast amongst the young minds the department would try to plan and extend its reaches (sporting activities) amongst the private schools as well in the state.
The winning team was felicitated with and amount of Rs 10000 with certificates and trophy, while the runners-up was contented with an amount of Rs 6000 also with certificates and trophy.
HDFC Bank, Dimapur, chipped in as the co-sponsors of the tournament. Greenwood school dominating the match since blowing off the whistle, its opponent, Pilgrim School was humiliated by 5-0 though the latter had put in a though fight with several attempts for goals but failed by the strong defender in the field.
Earlier, the programme chaired by principal, Greenwood School, ended with assistant director, Greenwood School, Asito Peseyie, acknowledging the gathering, while the school’s hostel chaplain, Temjenmongla Walling, pronouncing a word of prayer.
Representatives from Dimapur District Football Referee Association (DDFRA) were the match officials. Meanwhile, it was informed that three representatives from the state in Sepaktakraw including two female and a coach, Holshe Kherieo, would represent the country in an international championship, to be held from July 1.