Match officiating centre inaugurated at Sovima Cricket Ground

Dimapur: President of Nagaland Cricket Association (NCA), Kechangulie Rio, inaugurated a match officiating centre at Sovima Cricket Ground on Tuesday.

Rio, in his speech, thanked and welcomed the officials and team members of participating teams of the 1st NECDC Interstate Friendship Senior Men’s Tournament. He said that Sovima Cricket Ground is the second cricket ground in the state which was inaugurated in 2021, an update from NCA stated. Rio said “the ground has been providing services to training cricketers and hosting local and district tournaments since its inception and the need for an officiating centre which was much due has finally been fulfilled”.

Moreover, conditioning camp for Northeast zonal team for Duleep trophy was conducted at SCG and the first ever Women’s T-20 tournament in the state was played here, it stated.

 He mentioned that Sovima Cricket Ground will go a long way as a stepping stone for many budding cricketers both male and female. He thanked the Sovima Village Council for granting Sovima Cricket Ground and infrastructures for a lease period of 35 years which will ultimately benefit the NCA in promoting cricket in the state.

The Nagaland Cricket Association also invited all the fans and lovers of cricket in the state to witness the 1st NECDC Interstate Friendship senior men’s tournament. NECDC comprising six Northeast states namely Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Sikkim will be partaking in the tournament starting from March 29 to April 3; and played at two different venues — Nagaland Cricket Stadium and Sovima Cricket Ground.

The Nagaland team will be led by Jonathan Rongsen as captain. The first inaugural opening match on March 29 will be played at 08:45 am between Nagaland and Mizoram at Nagaland Cricket Stadium while Meghalaya will take on Arunachal Pradesh at Sovima Cricket Ground simultaneously.

The programme was chaired by Hyunilo Anilo Khing, secretary, NCA. Khin, in his speech, mentioned the much need of the officiating centre for smooth conduct of tournaments and trainings at the cricket ground. He expressed gratitude to BCCI for funding the project and making it a reality for overall growth of cricket in the state. Sebastian Zumvü, Chairman, Sovima Village Council,meanwhile, welcomed all the players and officials of the six states to Sovima village. Dedicatory prayer was pronounced by Zhau Sanchu, Associate Pastor, CRC, Sovima.