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Zale Neikha with the two instructors, participants and department officials during the inaugural event of the five-day Coaches Development Workshop at IG Stadium in Kohima on Monday. (EM Images)[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 21 (EMN): In an attempt to boost football coaching skills of aspiring coaches, a five-day “Coaches Development Workshop” is being organised by the department of Youth Resources and Sports (YR&S) in collaboration with Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools (BBFS) and Nagaland Football Association (NFA). The workshop got underway at IG Stadium in Kohima on October 21.
The participants will be trained by the two football scouts - Sumit Yadav, technical manager development squad, pan India, and Nikhil Khunteta , technical head, Bhaichun Bhutia Football Schools, Mumbai.
Inaugurating the training camp, Zale Neikha, advisor, YR&S said the department is organising the coaching camp as a part of the calendar activities of the yearlong celebration of Dr. T Ao's centenary birth anniversary. The department is keen to promote football in Nagaland as it is one amongst the north-eastern states that loves football, the advisor added.
He stated that among many games and sports, Nagas have the potential and ability to excel especially in the field of football. However, till today, the state lacks the technical ways of imparting football to the aspiring footballers, he said while adding that as a result, young footballers fail to perform professionally because of the paucity of technical knowledge.
The department have roped in professional instructors to cater to the needs of football in Nagaland today, he said. He urged the participants to give their best and learn the skill of football during the coaching camp so that they can impart the knowledge of the game to the budding footballers.
Neikha advised them to be disciplined, attentive and give their best during the training sessions. "To be a good coach or sportsperson, you have to be disciplined," he said.
Reminding that at the end of the camp, few of the aspirants would be selected and sent to a residential academy for further training, he wished them the best.
YR&S director Akumla Chuba said the department has reached another milestone in conducting the recently concluded 12th Inter-District Catch Them Young Tournament at IG Stadium during which 15 footballers were shortlisted for further training. She informed that a 20-member team consisting of one team manager, four couches and the fifteen footballers will be joining the residential academy of BBFS in Delhi, probably by January next year for additional training ahead .
Meanwhile, Sumit, one of the two instructors at the programme, felt that Northeast's Nagaland needs to be given the right exposure to tap the footballing talents to grow. He stated that even if football is taken as a clean-oriented scope, it is essential to develop all the possible aspects of game.
He said that the purpose of keeping in contact with the department of Youth Resources and Sports was to develop Nagaland football holistically by improving every aspect of the game. "What we have understood is that, to develop football as of Nagaland, first of all, we have to develop the coaches," he said.
The basics of coaching will be imparted during the coaches development workshop, which will include both theory and practical sessions. The trainees will be required to give theory and practical tests in the last two days of the workshop.
About 30 participants from different districts of the state such as Kohima, Dimapur, Phek, Tuensang, Mon etc. have registered for the workshop.