The Department of Youth Resources & Sports organised a Pre Subroto Cup Cluster- 1, in collaboration with Nagaland Football Association, which will be held from 23rd to 26th June 2025, commenced on 23rd June, 2025 at Chumoukedima Football Stadium.
District Sports Officer, Chumoukedima, Wutsutho in his key note address, , thanked and welcomed District Youth Resources Officer of Dimapur, Vice President of Nagaland Football Association, President of Dimapur District Football Association, the football coach from the Department of Youth Resources and Sports, President of Area Sports Association, media fraternity, teachers in-charge from all the schools, the Chumoukedima District Football Referee Association, and parents for their presence to witness and participate in the State-level Pre-Subroto Football Tournament Cluster-1.
Wutsutho highlighted a brief background overview of the tournament, where he mentioned that, this year, the department is organizing in two clusters- Cluster 1 and Cluster 2. Cluster 2 is being held at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima, while Cluster 1 is being held at Chumoukedima Football Stadium. From these two clusters, all together, 28 schools are participating- 17 schools U- 15 boys and nine schools U- 17 girls. In Chumoukedima, 12 schools are participating- 10 schools U-15 (Boys) and 2 Schools U -17 (Girls). He informed that, from Cluster One, the best two teams U-15 boys will compete with Cluster Two, at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima on 30th June, next week. The best two will be selected and U-17 girls, only the best will be selected. One school will be selected to participate at IG Stadium on 1st July, 2025. In total there will be 12 matches.
Wutsutho encouraged all the dedicated, aspiring football lovers who wish to become and who dreams to become professional football players in the near future to take this tournament seriously as, after some few years, they will be participating and representing the senior team with many responsibilities. He pointed that if they perform exceptional then many big clubs from the state and even from the national level may come, and witness so as to select them and invite them in their clubs. Hence, he encouraged all to give their best in the tournament.
Further, the District Sports Officer informed that the winner of the state level for both boys and girls will represent the state and will compete with the rest the states and union territories in New Delhi, in August 2025. He highlighted thatr the winning team expenditures for their uniforms, jersey, shorts, boots etc will be borne by the Department of the State Government. He thanked all the principals, all the headmasters, teachers-in-charge of all the schools for allowing their students to participate in this tournament and hoped for continued participation in the years to come.
The program was chaired by N. Viniekholie (DYRO) and Invocation by Khriezotuonuo Theunuo (Sports Coach). Oath taking ceremony was presided by Kevicasier Savino, PIS.
The inaugural first match was played between Bethel Baptist School, Niuland and Christian School, Molvom (U-15 Boys).
(Tovikali, IA, Chumoukedima)
