Dimapur, May 1 (EMN): Nagaland State league CAPF U-19 football Talent Hunt Tournament organised by Assam Rifles, HQ IGAR (North) kicked off in Kohima on Monday, May 1 amidst endearing tunes of Pipe band and loud cheers from the crowd.
Yanthungo Patton, Home Minister Nagaland graced the occasion as the chief guest along with other civil dignitaries, officials of Nagaland Football Association and Nagaland Referee Association.
Speaking on the occasion, Patton mentioned the significance of Oorja tournament. He said “It is an initiative of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi with an objective of the tournament to be part of Mission XI Million, and imbibing more passion and creating more platforms for the young football enthusiast of India”. He also lauded 9 AR and said, “Assam Rifles is doing significant service by conducting Capt N Kenguruse Football Tournament every year in memory of son of the soil martyr late Capt N Kenguruse, MVC at Kohima and keeping the state safe from any law and order problem while maintaining peace and tranquility in the region”. He also brought to knowledge that first Nagaland Captain of Indian football team in 1963 at London Olympics was Dr. T. Ao who was popularly known as the “Barefoot Player”.
The tourney was declared open by the chief guest by releasing pigeons. All teams attired in various colourful outfits appeared as a rainbow and pledged to play the sports with all fairness and sportsman sprit. A total of 20 players in both boys & girls category will be selected to represent the State at Shillong for further selection to represent North East at New Delhi
The tournament is being played by 8 teams each in both boys and girls categories. Boy’s matches will be played at Kohima local ground and girls matches at IG Stadium. Finals of both girls and boys will be played at Kohima local ground on May 8. Today’s fixtures included two matches between State Boys Hostel * KV Kohima in boys category which was won by State Boys Hostel by 6-0 margin. In Girls category Christ King Higher Secondary School defeated KV Dimapur by a margin of 3-0.
