Nagaland, a land rich in cultural and vibrant youth, holds immense potential in the realm, of sports. In a significant move to modernize Nagaland’s sports infrastructure and boost its sporting power, chief minister Neiphiu Rio announced a trio of significant initiative. This ambitious undertaking, poised to nurture young talents across various discipline and dramatically elevate the state’s sporting profile on both national and internation platforms, the establishment of the Nagaland Football Academy to develop football talent, the introduction of the chief minister’s sports scholarship to support promising athletes across various sports, and the launch of the Nagaland International Gold Cup, an event aimed at bringing high level competition to the state.
Nagaland Football Academy
Amidst the electrifying atmosphere of a jam-packed chumoukedima football stadium on Tuesday, where he graced the final match of the Nagaland super league (NSL) as a special guest, Chief minister Neiphiu Rio made a significant announcement regarding the future of football in the state. Addressing the enthusiastic crowed just before the highly anticipated kick- off, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio revealed the states government’s decisive plan to established the Nagaland Football Academy, a dedicated and professional training institution meticulously designed to identify, groom, and encourage young athletes towards excellence in the sport.
This ambitious academy, set to be strategically based at the very chumoukedima Football Stadium where the announcement was made, to be forged in collaboration with a globally respected and internationally recognized football institution, this academy will serve as a crucial platform to identify and meticulously nurture beginner talents, providing structure, comprehensive training that guarantees young players to have a clear and supported pathway to achieves their professional football aspiration.
Chief Minister’s Sports Scholarships (CMSS)
The Chief Minister Sport Scholarship (CMSS) mark a significant step towards supporting Nagaland’s aspiring athletes by providing essential financial aid to promising individuals across various sports, with all associated costs fully covered by the Chief Minister’s Sports Fund. Implemented in a strategic partnership with Nagaland Olympic Association (NOA), state sports association that the Chief Minister Sports Scholarship (CMSS) is specifically designed to cultivate medal- winning athletes capable of competing successfully at both national and international levels.