The Nagaland Football Association (NFA) and Nagaland Olympic Association (NOA) held a felicitation programme in honor of the President of All India Football Association (AIFF), Kalyan Chaubey on 4th December 2022 at Nagaland Olympic Association Complex, Kohima.

While welcoming the AIFF President, Secretary General, NOA, and Advisor to CM, Abu Metha extended his warm greetings to the President and mentioned that football is the most popular sport in the State and it is the sport that unifies the people of Nagaland. He added that Naga people have inherent talent in sports and music. Like everywhere across the world, football is also played in all the villages of the State. He urged the sports fraternity of the country to focus on and follow the 'Look East' policy. On behalf of the NOA, he extended his support and cooperation on the collective endeavor to produce champions from the State to bring laurels to the country. He hoped that the visit by the President of AIFF will leave behind significant footprints for many years to come.

President of All India Football Association (AIFF), Kalyan Chaubey said that he had the immense pleasure to understand and witness the sportsmen's spirit that Nagaland has and that the State has the potential to do well at the international level. As India is aiming to become one of the top 10 Olympic Medalist nations in a few years, Chaubey suggested that the first thing that is required for achieving medals is dedication and having proper direction for sportsmanship. He urged the stakeholders to come together with a long-term plan for the development of athletes. The lack of quality coaches and quality refereeing in the State and for sponsorship of children for football, Chaubey suggested that the AIFF could provide technical support for three years for individuals from all the districts. Sports, just like any other education needs basic methods of learning and such technical support can help with the rise of better athletes in the State. He hoped that in the future there would be a collaboration between the Centre and the State to take sports in Nagaland to the highest level.

(Takumpula, IA)