Nagaland govt supporting Subroto team over the years: TR Zeliang

Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister TR Zeliang today stated that the Government of Nagaland has been supporting in organising the Subroto team over the years. "This Tournament is fully funded by the Government of Nagaland and is a part of the Sectoral Outlay under State Plan," Zeliang said while addressing the closing ceremony of the State Level Pre-Subroto cum Junior Football Tournament 2024 (U-15 Boys/U-17 Girls) on June 11 at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima. However, this is the first time that the Department of Youth Resources & Sports has organized District Level Tournament as well as the current State Level Pre-Subroto Tournament; he said and congratulated the Department of Youth Resources & Sports for their valuable role and contribution in particular. Zeliang also congratulated the department and Nagaland Football Association (NFA) for successful conduct of the State Level Pre-Subroto Cum Junior Football Tournament 2024. In general, he said, Subroto junior tournament was started in 1960 with the objective of encouraging Football at the grass-root level. In the recent past, teams from Brazil, Australia, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Switzerland, Sweden, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan, Malaysia, Israel, Bhutan, UAE, Indonesia and Uzbekistan have participated in this Tournament giving it an International prominence, he said. At the higher level, he said, this year will herald in the joint efforts of Subroto Mukherjee Sports Education Society of the Indian Air Force and the All India Football Federation in organizing the prestigious Subroto Cup International Football Tournament in July 2024. Zeliang made a special mention of 3 youngsters namely Lalminkai Thompson, Asa Ayemi and Nitoka Tamang who were selected to undergo Football Coaching in Germany. "We have high hope on such young talented players who have made the state proud," he said and reminded the young players that that sports play a very important role in the overall development of human lives. "A good education system is not based only on development of the mind but is equally focussed on the development of the physical body," he said and urged the youngsters to make sports an integral part of one's life. "This will prepare our young friends to enter a new world of Sports once they move out of their District and their home state," he said.