Officials and others during trials for Nagaland's next premier club Thonburo United on April 2 in Kohima.
Our Correspondent
Kohima | April 2nd
A trial for Nagaland's next top player for Thonburi United was held today at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima.
This is an initiative of Youth Resources and Sports department, Nagaland, with Nagaland Football Association (NFA) and Progressive Sports Consultant.
Development Commissioner and Principal Secretary, R Ramakrishnan, who was a special guest in his address, expressed his happiness over the arrival of the team from Thonburi University and added that it is a new beginning in athletics adding to the various other sports activities in state.
He lauded that the recently concluded Northeast Olympics was a success organized by the Nagaland Olympic Association (NOA) and the Youth Resources and Sports department.
Pointing out that the Department of Youth Resources and Sports has undertaken many activities to promote sports activities in the state with infrastructural development across the state and to come.
Observing that the state has not produced international and national standard quality players with the exception of few individuals, however he opined that the initiative like Nagaland's Next Top Player would give the exposure to play with the international players which is a great opportunity.
He told the players to make the most of the opportunity while expressing hope that the initiatives will encourage more players to join other clubs and will be the starting point for signing Memorandum of Cooperation (MoU) and associations globally and within the country.
Kanabuadee Yamchuti, Director of Thonburi United and sports director of Thonburi University in his speech acknowledged the department for organizing the event and making it happen.
He hoped that the event would make the relations between Nagaland and Thailand stronger and make the brotherhood continue.
Yamchuti said Thonburi United would select a player from the state on April 2 and the player would get a professional contract with Thonburi United, the team that plays professionally in the Thai League. For the contract he said that there will be a salary of INR 20,000 per month with accommodation and air tickets both ways.
K Neibou Sekhose, President of Nagaland Football Association (NFA), thanks Thai – Thonburi United for their presence in the state, while also appreciated the Youth Resource and Sports department for creating an avenue for the players from the state. He exuded hope that the new venture would also put India and the World on the map in sports.
Meanwhile, Kethosituo Sekhose, Director of Youth and Sports Resources informed that with Tuesday's event as a start he said the department will carry out a number of programs under the current financial year 2024-25.
He said about 26 events were planned, which are excluded from the activities of other sister organizations and sports associations.
Sekhose also informed that the four women teams would also play Futsal at Akim Astro Turf, Kohima from April 2 and 3 to showcase the talents in the team from Thonburi United and if the players performed well, they could get a chance to play for Thonburi United and also study from Thonburi University with scholarships.
