Abu Metha and others during a press conference at Niathu
Resort, Chümoukedima, on Monday. (EM Images)
- DIMAPUR — Secretary General of the Nagaland
Olympic Association and member of Nagaland Super League (NSL) governing body,
Abu Metha on Monday asserted that the NSL 2024-2025 was an “overwhelming
success.”
- Metha, who is also Vice President of the Athletics
Federation of India, made the remark during a press conference to celebrate the
success of the NSL inaugural season at Niathu Resort, Chümoukedima.
- Metha expressed surprise at the overwhelming success and
support they received, which exceeded all expectations. He also congratulated
the Nagaland Football Association, the department of Sports, and the state
government for winning the All India Football Federation’s Special Award for a
new project.
- He stated that the victory is not just for the NSL, but for
the entire football and sports ecosystem in Nagaland and mentioned that the
success of the NSL was primarily because of the unwavering support of fans.
“Without the fans, football cannot rise,” he said.
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- He explained that playoffs were introduced because the All
India Football Federation requires each team to play a minimum number of
matches for league recognition.
- Metha also stated that the NSL was the only state league in
the country to have a weekly show on satellite TV, through partnership with
NElive, which received an overwhelming response.
- And the best part of it is was that the entire production
was done by local entrepreneurs and digital media personalities.
- He also shared that, for the first time, a documentary
series was created, with the first episode released on the night of the NSL
Awards.
- The NOA secretary general also informed that the maiden NSL
created 612 jobs while 203 players got the opportunity to play professional
football, and also got paid according to the guidelines of the football league.
- Key highlights from the NSL included 45 matches played, 144
goals scored, 60,000 stadium attendees, INR 60 lakh in ticket sales, 6.33
million YouTube views, and 61.03 million social media impressions, Metha said.
- Additionally, since the league prioritised grassroots and
youth development, each franchise was required to include at least six U-20
players in a 30-member squad, with a minimum of two U-20 players in the
starting eleven, while six guest players were allowed per team with only three
guest players on the field at any given time.
-
- The NSL also conducted a unique outreach programme involving
educational institutions, colleges, and school children, giving them an
immersive experience of the NSL atmosphere, he added.
- Further, Metha shared that the NSL selection board has
chosen a team of the best under-20 players from the NSL and these players will
undergo a short coaching camp in Nagaland before heading to the Inspire
Institute of Sport in Bangalore.
- There, they will train with FC Bangalore and international
coaches, play matches, and receive exclusive scholarships funded by the NSL.
- Addressing alleged discrepancies in payment to individual
award winners during the NSL, Metha clarified that all individual awards and
match prizes were handed over to the players through bank transactions from day
one.
- He mentioned that when the NSL was created, the goal was to
promote and protect footballers, and to promote football. And to achieve this,
they structured the rules and regulations, making it mandatory for each
franchisee to have a personal contract with every player.
- The contracts, vetted by the NFA and aligned with All India
Football Federation norms, were required to specify player fees. To ensure fairness,
the league mandated franchises to submit monthly player contracts, salary
reports, and transaction proofs, to which only a few franchises complied on
time
- It was made clear from the beginning that prize money would
only be released after compliance with these requirements, he said.
- Clubs that submitted their compliance report and adhered to
the signed contracts have already received their prize money, he informed.
- He further announced that NSL Season 2 will kick off by the
end of 2025 and the winner of the NSL will have the opportunity to participate
in the I-League by March or April 2026.
- Earlier, the opening address was delivered by Benei M
Lanthiu, MLA, who is also Chairman of the Nagaland Super League and General
Secretary of the Nagaland Football Association.
- Neibü Sekhose, President of the Nagaland Football
Association and member of the NSL Governing Body, also delivered a brief
speech.
