A Press Conference was hosted by NSL to celebrate the success of its inaugural season on 12th May, 2025 at Niathu Resort, Chumoukedima.
At the press conference, it highlighted the Nagaland Super League (NSL) marking a historic leap for football in the state, culminating in Nagaland winning a Special National Award at the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) Awards 2024-25. Successfully launched as Nagaland's premier professional football league, the NSL was held across two major venues Chümoukedima Football Stadium and Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima, with seven participating teams, 45 matches, and over 140 goals scored, setting a new benchmark for football and sports event management in the state. It also outlines the comprehensive achievements of the NSL inaugural season in terms of sporting performance, audience participation, media outreach, economic contribution, and digital engagement.
Chairman of the Nagaland Super League, General Secretary of the Nagaland Football Association, and MLA, Government of Nagaland, Benei M. Lanthiu in his address stated that what began as a vision has become a reality, a reality where they have given platform to young footballers to pursue their career in football as profession. It has been an immense success in the growth and outlook of the football in our State. He thanked the fans, franchises, partners and media for their tremendous support. He said that the first league was a great success and has achieved great height and looking forward that it will set new heights at the grassroot level of football and building the league stronger and greater in the second season.
Secretary General of the Nagaland Olympic Association, Vice President of the Athletics Federation of India, and Member of the NSL Governing Body, Abu Metha stated that the NSL 2024-25 was an overwhelming success with the level of response and support that got from all sections was beyond expectations. The victory is a victory not only for NSL but for the entire ecosystem of football and sports in Nagaland. NSL was only in its first edition yet it got national recognition. He thanked the football fans across the State who joined physically in the stadiums, fans who joined on digital platforms, who followed and cooperated with them in social media handles.
Metha, reported that the final match showed a record of 53 thousand live audiences and views crossed 5 lakhs, more than 7 million impression on facebook and total ticket revenue generated was 60 Lakhs. Also more than 60 thousand people attended the matches at the two venues and that itself is a report for the sports in Nagaland. Another venture they took up was digital and online ticketing system, going digital way is the best way for revenue generation and transparency and gives scope to expand in the future and gives access to fans across the States to get tickets and entries, he said.
He pointed that Nagaland was the only league in the country to have a weekly show on satellite television and entire production was done by local entrepreneurs, local digital media personalities. In an extensive manner, documentary series have also come up to record for future generations. During NSL, total employment created was 612 jobs, 203 players were given an opportunity to professional play football and in North East, Nagaland has emerged as one of the best professional sports list not only in football but across all different sports disciplines.
Further, he emphasised that the fan zone has given the opportunity to expand the sport of football into entrepreneurship and employment generations. In conclusion, Metha highlighted the key focus areas on increasing the number of participating teams, Scaling community training programs, Strengthening long-term sponsorship and broadcast partnerships, Enhancing the ticketing experience via technology, Collaborating further with schools and youth academies.
President of the Nagaland Football Association and Member of the NSL Governing Body, Neibu Sekhose also shared a few words.
(Tovikali, IA, Chumoukedima)
