Mokokchung District Football Association launches zonal associations to revive grassroots football

Sharingain Longkumer with MDFA officials after launching Zonal Association at Whispering Winds, Mokokchung on Tuesday.

• MOKOKCHUNG — In a step toward restoring Mokokchung’s football prominence, the Mokokchung District Football Association (MDFA) officially launched its zonal association programme on Tuesday at Whispering Winds, Mokokchung, with Nagaland Legislative Assembly Speaker Sharingain Longkumer as the chief guest.
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• The initiative aims to revitalise football at the grassroots level across the district, marking a strategic push to nurture talent and rebuild Mokokchung’s storied football legacy.
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• In his address, Longkumer lauded the MDFA’s Zonal Association as a “thoroughly crafted programme” designed to penetrate grassroots football, emphasising its critical role in identifying not just talent but also team players with mental resilience, consistency and discipline.

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• “To match the infrastructure and performance standards of other states, we need participation from every corner, and MDFA is the perfect platform to issue this clarion call,” he said.
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• He urged the association to provide targeted sensitisation to empower young players at the grassroots level.
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• Reflecting on past challenges, Longkumer noted that Mokokchung lacked sports infrastructure for decades and that successive governments had poured resources into football but lacked proper infrastructure. “The incumbent government has learned from these shortcomings, prioritising infrastructure before initiatives like the Nagaland Super League (NSL),” he said, highlighting the shift from direct funding to capacity building and infrastructure development.
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• “Nagaland is no longer a welfare state; it’s becoming a contributor and participatory state,” he added.
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• Longkumer advised the MDFA to complete its organisational restructuring and infrastructure upgrades ahead of hosting high-level events like the NSL.
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•  “We must recalibrate our systems, with dedicated teams to promote grassroots football, backed by logistics, resources, and administrative support,” he said.
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• He also provided an update on the FIFA-grade Astroturf football ground at Rempukong, Ungma, located 5 km from Mokokchung town along NH202.
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• “Phase II is ongoing, with Phase III in the pipeline. Once operational, this ground will feature amenity centres, bus terminals, parking areas, and multipurpose facilities, setting a new standard for management,” he shared.
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• MDFA President N Akok Longkumer echoed the urgency to reverse the district’s declining football scene, despite its enduring popularity.
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• “We’re at a turning point, and this zonal structure is our strategy to revamp football from the ground up,” he said, acknowledging the need for human resources, fresh ideas, and financial support. He thanked the NLA Speaker for his generous contribution to the launch.

Sharingain Longkumer with MDFA members after launching Zonal Association at Whispering Winds, Mokokchung on Tuesday.

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• Executive member Yimya Jamir reminisced about Mokokchung’s past as a hub for footballers who shone across Nagaland and beyond, expressing concern over the current talent drought and reinforcing the need for grassroots revival.
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• The Zonal Association programme will establish nine zones under the MDFA’s ambit: Mokokchung Municipal Zone, Ongpangkong North Zone, Ongpangkong South Zone, Kobulong Zone, Chuchuyimlang Zone, Tuli Zone, Mangkolemba Zone, Longchem Zone and Merangmen Zone. The first phase will focus on forming associations in Kobulong, Mangkolemba and Tuli.
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• The structure aims to streamline the district’s numerous unrecognised local tournaments, enhancing player selection through broader participation and improved management.