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Zale Neikha seen here along with the players, officials, and organisers during the opening ceremony of Dimapur Football League at the DDSC stadium in Dimapur on Tuesday, Sep. 3. (EM Images)[/caption]
Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Sep. 3: The Dimapur Football League (DFL) season-2 got underway at the Dimapur District Sports Council (DDSC) Stadium in Dimapur on Tuesday, Sep. 3 with Advisor of Youth Resources and Sports, Zale Neikha as special invitee.
The month-long event, organised by the Naga United Football Club (NUFC) under the aegis of Dimapur District Football Association (DDFA) have 12 teams competing for the title.
Speaking as the special invitee, Neikha expressed happiness on organising the events and said, “This is the noble way of promoting sports in our state and nurturing young talents for the future”.
He opined that sports help a person to stay healthy and fit and added, “also improve emotional fitness”.
He lamented that most schools in the state, focuses on academic alone and decline in the importance of sports.
The advisor said “In-fact sports development should begin at an early age alongside school curriculum” and he also appealed the school authorities to give importance to sports and other activities.
He hailed the players from the state for their outstanding performance in the Gothia Cup held at Sweden that had the attention of other international coaches and expressed optimism for the players.
He re-affirmed that the PDA government is keen for the development of sports in the state to encourage budding sports persons and said the foundation stone for Regional Football Academy in Dimapur was laid and construction is under process which will benefit the players in state and the region.
The advisor also said the department of Youth Resources and Sports is organising first free football coaching beginning from September 4 at Kohima for U-14 boys and girls every Wednesday and Saturday.
“My department had earmarked Dimapur as the next destination for the free football coaching” he added.
He expressed optimism that with the initiative of the government the players from the state will shine in the regional and national level.
He also exhorted the players to be disciplined, strive hard, and be sincere and to be dedicated.
The DFL Season-2 have 12 teams in fray for the championship, viz. State Boys Hostel, S.M College FC, Tribal Hustlers, One Ten FC, Kachari Sporting Club, Fugu FC, Tribals United, Spartan FC, Aphuyemi FC, Burma Camp FC, A1 Powerplay, and Chanan FC.