In the first part of this series, EastMojo explored how FIFA World Cup brings familiar scenes to Nagaland. For a few weeks every four years, football becomes the centre of public attention, with national flags adorning homes, jerseys flying off shop shelves, and conversations revolving around the beautiful game.
This year, however, the football frenzy has taken an interesting leap. Toddlers and children can be seen sporting the jerseys of their favourite teams, signalling the arrival of a new generation of football fans.
Yet, even as a new generation is drawn into the excitement of the World Cup, an important question remains: can that passion be sustained beyond the tournament and translated into support for local football?
As for football coach Kivilu Kiba, he believes it can and it must.
As football fever grips the state, he argues that the enthusiasm generated by the World Cup presents a unique opportunity to nurture grassroots talent, strengthen local competitions and inspire young Nagas to pursue the sport beyond fandom.
“The World Cup should also encourage us to deepen our understanding of the game because Football is more than what we see on television,” he told EastMojo.
Learning from Smaller Football Nations
Kiba points to the success stories of countries such as Curaçao, Cape Verde, Uzbekistan and Jordan as proof that football development is not limited to traditional powerhouses.
“Their success shows that football is not rocket science. With the right structure, development pathway and belief, even smaller football nations can compete on the world stage,” he said.
For Nagaland, he believes the challenge is not a lack of talent but the absence of a sustainable system.
The state has already produced generations of gifted footballers and possesses one of India’s strongest football cultures. Yet many promising players struggle to transition from youth competitions to higher levels of the game.
Kiba argues that Nagaland’s football future depends less on infrastructure and more on structure.
While stadiums and facilities remain important, he believes the state already has one of football’s greatest resources: space to play.
“In many parts of India, players pay simply to access training grounds. We are fortunate because we already have football fields in villages and communities across the state,” he said.
What Nagaland needs now, he argues, is a clear development pathway that includes academies, age-group competitions, qualified coaching, talent identification and opportunities for progression.
The state, he observed, is in need of a unified football philosophy, age-specific training programmes and a distinct Naga football identity.
According to Kiba, Naga players possess natural strengths including speed, agility, strength and a fearless mentality which are qualities that can become the foundation of a unique style of play.
Nagaland’s football history includes several notable achievements, from the legacy of Dr T. Ao to successful performances in national and international youth tournaments. Yet Kiba believes the state’s greatest challenge begins after those victories.
“The real question is what happens after success. Do we continue supporting our young champions? Do we provide them with pathways to higher levels? Do we recognise and reward their achievements?” he pondered.
Too often, he argues, promising players disappear from the spotlight because long-term support systems are lacking. Many talented footballers, he said, could have progressed to represent India or compete in top leagues if they had received proper guidance and opportunities.
Kiba also believes Nagaland must embrace the realities of modern football. “Talent alone is no longer enough. Modern football demands a smarter and more scientific approach,” he said.
Sports science, nutrition, injury prevention, recovery management, performance analysis and data-driven coaching have become standard components of player development around the world.
Support Local
In this conversation with EastMojo, one of the strongest messages Kiba shared is directed at football fans themselves.
He believes local football deserves the same enthusiasm supporters show during the World Cup.
“We stay up late to watch international matches, buy jerseys and passionately support teams from around the world. Imagine what could happen if we supported our local clubs and players with the same energy,” he said.
He argues that football can only grow when communities actively support their own teams, attend matches, celebrate local achievements and stand by players through both victories and setbacks.
“If we celebrate our local heroes with the same enthusiasm we show for international stars, we can inspire the next generation and create more opportunities for young talent,” he added.
The opportunity hidden in World Cup fever
As FIFA World Cup fever grips Nagaland once again, the tournament offers more than entertainment. For many, it is also a reminder of the possibilities that lie ahead for the sport in the state.
Nagaland Olympic Association Secretary General Abu Metha believes football’s appeal lies in its unique ability to connect people across borders and cultures.
“When a goal is scored or a penalty is missed, the emotions are the same whether you are in a packed stadium or watching from a village thousands of miles away,” he expressed during the kicking off ceremony of the 5th Nagaland Futsal Club Championship held in Tseminyu on June 18.
Describing football as perhaps the closest thing humanity has to a universal language, Metha said the game’s simplicity is its greatest strength, adding that the World Cup places small nations and global powers on equal footing, united by a common pursuit of excellence.
Beyond the spectacle, Metha sees sport as a vehicle for aspiration and opportunity. “Football and sports in general make you dream big. Sport does not need a VIP recommendation. It only needs hard work. The only path to success is hard work. What you do when no one is watching will determine what you can do when everyone is watching,” he said, encouraging young athletes to pursue sports.
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
He also stressed that governments have a responsibility to support the dreams and aspirations of young people by creating opportunities and strengthening sporting infrastructure. With football today a multi-billion-dollar global industry, Metha said the sport offers pathways not only for players but also for coaches, referees, administrators and entrepreneurs.
As for football coach Kiba, he said the World Cup should inspire Nagas not only to admire football on the global stage but also to invest our energy in developing the game at homee.
He puts it: “Talent has never been Nagaland’s problem. Building a system that nurtures and sustains that talent is our next challenge.”
And perhaps that is the true legacy the World Cup can leave behind in Nagaland: not just memories of matches watched from afar, but inspiration to build a stronger football future at home.
Also Read | World Cup fever grips Nagaland, but can it inspire a football revolution?
You just read a story that took days to report. Help us keep our reporters on the ground in the Northeast.
Ad-free reading, support and keep important stories alive
Support once (any amount)
Scan to pay via UPI