Dimapur: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio assured that the state government would continue to promote sports talent at the grassroots level.
Rio was addressing a programme held to mark Nagaland United Sports Club’s (NUSC) entry into the Indian Football League (IFL) Second Tier, with the IFL Trophy Tour and the launch of its official jersey at Chumoukedima on Thursday evening.
He said sports offered significant opportunities for livelihood and asked the players to set an example for the younger generation.
Rio thanked the All India Football Federation (AIFF) for its support in promoting football in Nagaland.
He said that NUSC belonged to all Nagas and hoped that the club would motivate young people and provide them with a platform to compete at the national and international levels.
He urged the club’s officials and coaches to work with commitment and sincerity, while calling on the players to maintain discipline, professionalism and sportsmanship.
He said the club’s performance and progress would depend on the shared responsibility of the management and players.
He hoped that NUSC would one day bring the trophy home and inspire more young people to take up football.
Tourism and Higher Education Minister Temjen Imna Along described Nagaland’s participation in the IFL as a significant achievement for football in the state.
He said that NUSC’s entry into the league provided an opportunity to showcase Nagaland’s football heritage and take its talent to the rest of the country through skill and hard work.
Along thanked the AIFF for bringing the IFL trophy to Nagaland, saying this was only the beginning of a new journey for football in the state.
Head of Operations, IFL, Abhishek Yadav, congratulated NUSC on its entry into the IFL, while recognising the pride associated with carrying forward the legacy of T. Ao in Nagaland and Indian football.
Noting the contribution of the Northeast to Indian football, Yadav stressed the importance of investing in grassroots talent and building a sustainable club that could inspire future generations.