Dimapur, May 19 (EMN): A football club in Tseminyu in Kohima district has dreams to 'stay ahead' as it looks to break obscurity and find a place in Nagaland's football arena. The club, Vanguard FC - Tseminyu, will be debuting in the second edition of the Kohima Football League (KFL) this season with hopes of making a name in the league format of the game.
KFL started in the year 2016 with hopes of starting a professional league to promote the game besides developing the standard of the game in the state. The organiser, Kohima Town Club (KTC), mentioned during the first edition that the league would create an avenue for talented footballers to earn a livelihood besides leading the state to a place in Indian football with the new initiative.
The Tseminyu outfit stated in a press release that it had won a few other local tournaments. It won the previous year's edition of the Capt. Kenguruse MVC Football Tournament in Kohima. The team will be looking for a major break in state level tournaments via the KFL. Besides, Vanguard FC will be defending a tournament called the VFC’s 2nd Open Futsal Tourney and the 9th Eagles’ Trophy along with the Capt. Kenguruse MVC Football Tournament this year.
Eight teams will be participating in this year’s KFL. They are reigning champions Ziekezou Sporting Club and runners-up New Market FC; United 16 FC and Khriekesa FC, Nagabazar FC, Vanguard FC, Sechii Zubza FC and Twenty XI FC. Three other teams reportedly have opted out of the league.
Vanguard FC is stated to have more than 50 players in its fold.
Apart from competing in tournaments, the press release stated that Vanguard FC was focused on the development of football in the Rengma region. Since 2015, the club has been organizing football clinics and selections to nurture young talents, it was informed.
The VFC has set up an office at Tseminyu besides establishing a football academy. The academy has as staff the club’s captain Yhunshalo Kemp, stated to be a AIFCC ‘D’ Licence holder, as the academy's coach.
Its motto—‘stay ahead’—was chosen to push the club to continually pursue a movement that would spread the game's popularity and development in the region and beyond, the press release implied. That way, the team may become a motivating factor both on the football pitch and beyond 'as Vanguards,' the updates added.