The second edition of the Nagaland Women Futsal League kicked off on Monday evening at IG Stadium, Kohima
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KOHIMA — The second edition of the Nagaland Women Futsal League kicked off on Monday evening at IG Stadium, Kohima. Zhothisa Dawhuo, Secretary to the Government of Nagaland, Women Resource Development Department, was the special guest of the opening ceremony.
With a total of eight teams in the fray for the title, the tournament will culminate on May 13.
Addressing the gathering, Dawhuo said that sports remains to be one of the most dynamic tools for empowering women and promoting gender equality. Sports have long been seen as a male-dominated arena, and the fight for equal representation continues; however, the narrative is gradually changing, he added.
Supporting women in competitive sports is important as it fosters personal growth by teaching resilience, teamwork and leadership, besides breaking false stereotypes about women’s abilities and competitiveness, she said, adding that female athletes serve as powerful role models for younger generations to dream higher and normalise female leadership in society.
Dawhuo also stressed the need to encourage girls to pursue sports and ensure equal access to training and resources, stating that promoting women in sports is crucial towards achieving gender equality.
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He also congratulated the Department of Youth Resources and Sports, Government of Nagaland, for organising the second edition of the Nagaland Women Futsal League in collaboration with the Nagaland Football Association, saying that it would serve as a major encouragement for women aspiring to pursue sports as a career.
He also and lauded all the participating teams for making the league a reality.
Delivering the welcome address earlier in the programme, President of the Nagaland Football Association, K. Neibou Sekhose, described the tournament as a significant step for the future of women’s football in Nagaland.
While highlighting the progress of women’s football globally and in India, he expressed pride in the growth of the league since its inception two years ago. Today, the tournament features teams from across Nagaland, licensed coaches, certified referees and women officials supervising matches, he said.
Describing futsal as “the school of football,” he said the sport develops quick thinking, discipline and technical skills that can help players advance to higher levels of competition, including the national team.
He encouraged the players to play with passion and discipline while respecting opponents, referees and the game. Thanking the parents for supporting their daughters to pursue football, he said every girl playing football represents a brighter future.
Sekhose also informed that the prize money for the champions of the tournament is INR 60,000, while the runners-up, third and fourth-placed teams will receive INR 50,000, INR 40,000 and INR 20,000 respectively. Individual awards, including player of the tournament, best goalkeeper and top scorer, carry cash prizes of INR 5,000 each, while the best disciplined team will receive INR 10,000.
He thanked the Department of Youth Resources and Sports for sponsoring the tournament, an effort that will help develop women’s football in the state.
Here are participating teams:
Group A — Kohima Red Tigresses, Pink Panthers Kohima, Puiteing FC Jalukie Town, SC Nagaland.
Group B —United Girls Kohima, SFS Football Academy Medziphema, Brave Cubs Kohima, Football Plus Jalukie.