Dignitaries and others during trials for Nagaland next top player Thonburo United on April 2 in Kohima.
Our Correspondent
Kohima | April 2
A trial for Nagaland’s next top player for Thonburi United was conducted today at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima.
This is an initiative of the department of Youth Resources and Sports, Nagaland, with Nagaland Football Association (NFA) and Progressive Sports Consultant.
Development Commissioner and Principal Secretary, R Ramakrishnan who was special guest in his speech express delight about coming of the team from Thonburi University and added that it is a new beginning in the sports arena adding to the various other sports activities in the state.
He commended that the recently concluded Northeast Olympic Games was a success which was organised by the Nagaland Olympic Association (NOA) and the department of Youth Resources and Sports.
Pointing out that the department of Youth Resources and Sports has been undertaking lots of activities to promote sport activities in the state with infrastructural development across the state and that are coming up.
Observing that the state has not produced standard-quality players at the international and national level with exceptions of few persons, yet he opined that the initiative such as 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 best use of the opportunity while he exuded hope that the initiatives will encourage more players to join other clubs and be a starting point to sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and associations globally and within the country.
Kanabuadee Yamchuti, Manager of Thonburi United and Sports Director Thonburi University in his speech acknowledged the department for organizing the event and making it happen.
He exuded hope the event would make the relations between Nagaland and Thailand stronger and make the brotherhood continues.
Yamchuti said the Thonburi United would select a player from the state on April 2 trails and the player would get a professional contract with the Thonburi United, the team that has been playing Thai League professionally. For the contract he said there will be a salary of INR 20,000 per month with accommodations and tickets for airfare in both ways.
K Neibou Sekhose, President of Nagaland Football Association (NFA), extend gratitude to the Thai – Thonburi United for coming forward to the state while he also appreciated the department of Youth Resources and Sports for creating avenue for the players from the state. He exuded hope that the new venture would also be in the map of India and World in sports.
Meanwhile, Kethosituo Sekhose, Director of Youth Resources and Sports informed that with Tuesday’s event as the beginning he said the department would carry out a number of programmes under the current financial year 2024-25.
He said about 26 events were said to have been planned out, which are exclusive of the activities of others sister’s organization and sports association.
Sekhose also informed that Four women team would also be playing Futsal at Akim Astro Turf, Kohima from April 2 and 3 to showcase the talents to the team from Thonburi United and if the players performed well, could get an opportunity to play for the Thonburi United and also get to study from Thonburi University with scholarships.
