Initiatives taken to promote female football players in Nagaland

KOHIMA — Executive member of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), K Neibu Sekhose, has highlighted the “inability” to conduct football tournaments for females in Nagaland.

He however expressed confidence that by October, female football players would get a boost through various initiatives including organising girls' grassroots football development programmes and inter-district tournaments.

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Sekhose informed this to Eastern Mirror in an interaction on the sidelines of the final match of the first Nagaland Open Women Football League between PDWFC and KISCE on Saturday evening at IG Stadium in Kohima.

Additionally, he informed that the AIFF plans to introduce football in both private and government educational institutes, providing training as part of the students' extracurricular activities, like ‘Catch them Young’ programmes.

"We can achieve great results if we remain focused," said Sekhose, who is also the president of Nagaland Football Association (NFA), while emphasising the association’s increased focus on junior players.

He acknowledged the first women's tournament conducted by the department of Youth Resources and Sports, under the guidance of the NFA as a promising beginning.

Sekhose also mentioned plans to provide coaching to students as part of grassroots football development, aiming to generate interest in playing the sport.

He went on to share that their objective is not to pressure the students but to ensure they enjoy playing while learning.

Further, Sekhose stated that by 2030, they expect some girls from the state to represent the nation in football, reflecting their long-term vision.