Peaceful Nagaland hosts football camp for youngsters

With peace prevailing in Nagaland, youngsters are exploring their passion for both soccer and music.

By Pradeep Pareek

Dimapur (Nagaland), May 3 : With peace prevailing in Nagaland, youngsters are exploring their passion for both soccer and music.

Many new music bands have come up in recent years. To hone their sporting skills, several youngsters attended a football camp recently.

A popular sport worldwide, soccer is yet to find a foothold in India. Young Naga lads are not deterred, and are more than willing to take it up as a career.

Filled with confidence and enthusiasm, they know that they have it in them to perform, and given the opportunity, could even take on the best.

"Nagas are very talented, and I think the only thing that is lacking is opportunity. So, I think the government should open up more avenues where young people can really develop themselves and play at the national level and compete with the best," says Benjamin, a soccer player.

"Lots of talent, not only in football, but other games as well. In football we have got lots of talented players, physically and skill wise also," adds George Vizo, another player.

The North East has been contributing towards the development of soccer for long, producing talents like Bhaichung Bhutia and Tomba Singh.

Today, national teams like Mohan Bagan and the Churchill Brothers are incomplete without a player from the North East in their ranks.

Unfortunately, the Government is not taking enough steps to promote these players. Players feel that much needs to be done, if Indian football is to progress at the global level.

"Such coaching camps help the students to organise themselves. They give them proper time and teach them how to take a proper diet. And they also help the player both mentally and spiritually," says Benjamin.

"We did not get any help from the government. Individuals provide all this equipment that we are using in this coaching camps. We did approach the youth resources, but could not get any help," adds Kezhievito Vizo, another player.

In the FIFA world rankings, India stands 165th. Not a very flattering position for a country with a population of over one million. If India wants to improve this tally, young players have to be given more opportunities and the infrastructure has to be improved on a massive scale.

And in all this, the North East will play a very important role with the kind of football fever that exists in the region.

ANI