Tseminyu: The 5th Nagaland Futsal Club Championship 2026 got underway on Thursday at Riga’s Astro Turf in New Terogvunyu near Tseminyu, marking the district’s first state-level sporting event.
Organised under the aegis of the Nagaland Football Association (NFA) and hosted by the Football Association Tseminyu District (FATD), the championship has brought together 10 teams from across the state. A total of 23 matches will be played to determine Nagaland’s representative for the national futsal championship.
The participating teams are RM Boys (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 Chümoukedima Town Youth Club (Chümoukedima).
Advisor to the Chief Minister and Chairman of the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), Abu Metha, attended the opening ceremony as the special guest. Greetings were also delivered by Tseminyu MLA Jwenga Seb and NFA president K. Neibou Sekhose.
Addressing the gathering, Metha congratulated Tseminyu on hosting its first state-level sporting event and described the district as a young administrative unit with a rich history and strong community spirit.
He said hosting such events helps build confidence within communities and highlighted football’s unique ability to unite people across geographical, cultural and social boundaries.
“Football is perhaps the closest thing humanity has to a universal language,” Metha said, adding that the sport offers equal opportunities to individuals irrespective of their background.
Encouraging the players, he stressed that success in sports comes through dedication and hard work rather than privilege.
“The only way to succeed is through hard work. What you do when no one is watching determines what you will do when the world is watching,” he said.
Metha also reiterated the state government’s commitment to developing sports infrastructure. He said futsal facilities have been established in every district and subdivision of Nagaland and announced plans to develop Astro Turf football grounds across all districts.
He informed that the district administration has been requested to identify suitable land for an Astro Turf football ground in Tseminyu and expressed hope that the district would eventually host national and international sporting events.
Speaking on the occasion, Tseminyu MLA and District Planning and Development Board (DPDB) chairman Jwenga Seb said the championship reflects Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s vision of creating opportunities for young people to dream, compete and excel.
Describing sports as a platform for nurturing talent and building confidence among the youth, Seb said football allows young athletes to showcase their abilities while developing discipline, character and sportsmanship.
He urged players to compete with passion and determination while upholding the values of respect and fair play. Seb also underscored the need for an 11-a-side football ground in the district.
NFA president K. Neibou Sekhose said the championship provides one of the best opportunities for players to earn a chance to represent Nagaland at the national level.
Emphasising the importance of futsal in football development, Sekhose said the sport is not merely “mini-football” but serves as a foundation for skill development and player growth.
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“The skills learned in futsal can help players progress to higher levels, including international football,” he said.
Sekhose further announced that the champions will receive a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, while the runners-up will be awarded Rs 50,000.
The winners of the championship will go on to represent Nagaland at the national futsal championship.
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