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Our Correspondent
Kohima, June 28 (EMN): President of Nagaland Football Coaches Association (NFCA) and former international football player, Roko Angami, on Tuesday, said that football is gradually improving in the state and so are the players over the years.
He was speaking during the first Open Late Lhouchalie Viluo (futsal) tournament that got underway at L Viluo AstroTurf along National Highway-2 at Meriema, Kohima district.
He called for working and putting efforts together to further improve the football scenario in the state.
The football coach president also observed that discipline among players is getting better and advised them to make the best use of themselves.
“Play good football and win the hearts of the people instead of focusing on winning. Have patience and show your skills. Even as players aim to become international players in the future,” he said.
He also advised them to restrain themselves from consuming tobacco and littering the pitches with their spit and wrappers. He cautioned that tobacco consumption can degrade the stamina inside a person’s body.
“Many youths today don’t make sacrifices and are dependent on their parents/ guardians. But it’s time for them to work hard and earn for themselves instead of depending on their parent's money,” he said.
As a footballer himself who played at both national and international arenas, it was football that helped him connect with people/personalities from different places and areas, he shared.
He had to learn it himself as there were no football coaches in the state back then.
“However, things have changed now. There are good numbers of trained football coaches”, he said and told them to take advantage of the facilities at their disposal.
Giving background on how the futsal game began, he said it started in 1930 when some senior players came together and played it for physical fitness. But now, the International Federation of Association Football and All India Football Federation recognised it as a game. He added that rules for both seven-a-side and 11-a-side are almost the same except for a few modifications.
He further informed that the best players from the tournament will be selected to play at the national tournament, which will be held soon.
The president presented a book regarding bye-laws of a futsal game to the proprietor.
A total of 31 teams are participating in the open futsal tournament, which will culminate on June 30.
Located about 2 km away from the state capital, L Viluo astroturf ground is a FIFA-approved turf, having a seven-a-side pitch inaugurated earlier this month at Vilietsa, Meriema, below NH-2. The astroturf ground is a family-owned property in memory of their great grandfather Late Lhouchalie Viluo.
It is also one of the firsts of its kind in the Northern Angami region.