Kohima: Tseminyu district is all set to host the 5th Nagaland Futsal Club Championship from June 18 to 20 at Riga’s Astro Turf, with 10 clubs from across the state vying for the coveted title.
The championship, organised by the Nagaland Football Association (NFA), will be played in a league-cum-knockout format, with teams divided into two groups of five each. Defending champions Aphuyemi FC of Zunheboto will return to defend their crown.
Addressing a press conference at the NFA office on Friday, NFA Joint Secretary Chenonlo Woch said the championship aims to strengthen the development of futsal players in the state and provide a competitive platform for emerging talent.
Woch informed that the NFA had mandated district football associations (DFAs) to organise district-level futsal championships, and only teams from districts that conducted such tournaments were allotted slots for the state championship. Eight district football associations successfully organised their respective tournaments.
Defending champions Aphuyemi FC from Zunheboto will be among the contenders for the title. As the host district, the runner-up team of the district championship was also allotted a spot in the state championship.
The tournament winner will receive a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, while the runners-up will be awarded Rs 50,000. The champion club will also earn the right to represent Nagaland at the national-level futsal championship next year.
The championship will be inaugurated by NFA Secretary General Abu Metha as the special guest, while local MLA and Chairman of the District Planning and Development Board (DPDB), Ar Jwenga Seb, will attend the closing programme.
Highlighting the importance of authorised competitions, NFA president K Neibou Sekhose said futsal in India falls under the jurisdiction of the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
Sekhose said that the AIFF was the governing body for both football and futsal and that its authority extended to all member state associations. He stated that member states could not organise futsal tournaments without AIFF approval and warned that participation in unauthorised tournaments could result in disciplinary action, including bans on coaches and referees.
Football Association of Tseminyu District (FATD) Technical Director Hethanglo Kath expressed gratitude to the NFA for entrusting the young district with hosting responsibilities.
Kath said that Tseminyu, being a young district, was grateful for the opportunity to host the championship. He added that the organisers were making every effort to provide the best facilities and ensure the successful conduct of the tournament. He also appealed to all district football associations to participate in large numbers.
Dear Reader,
Every day, our team at EastMojo travels through rain, rough roads, and remote hills to bring you stories that matter – stories from your town, your people, your Northeast.
We do this because we believe in truthful, independent journalism. No big corporate backing, no government pressure – just honest reporting by local journalists who live and breathe the same air you do.
But to keep doing this work, we need you. Your small contribution helps us pay our reporters fairly, reach places others ignore, and keep asking the tough questions.
If you believe the Northeast deserves its own fearless voice, stand with us.
Support independent journalism. Be a Member.
Thank you,
Karma Paljor
Editor-in-Chief, eastmojo.com
The organisers also announced that the championship will be a single-use plastic-free event in line with the Tseminyu Green Initiative.
The participating teams include: RN Boys FC (Dimapur), Vanguard FC (Tseminyu), Aphuyemi FC (Zunheboto), Vanguard Academy (Tseminyu), TRS FC (Tuensang), Ipuing FC (Peren), SC Nagaland (Mon), Legacy FC (Wokha), Aspirants FC (Kohima), and Chumoukedima Town Youth Club (Chumoukedima).
Also Read | Why a Miss Nagaland quit modelling and moved to Noklak instead