IMPHAL, August 2: The District Sports Association, Tamenglong will send its U-13 boys football team for the first time to participate in the State U-13 Boys Football festival which will be held during the month of December at Imphal.
The development comes in the wake of the 15 days U-12-14 years Football Development programme held at the Lower ground/Mini Stadium, Tamenglong hq organized by the DSA, Tamenglong under the aegis of the AMFA.
Speaking at the closing function of the programme held yesterday at the same venue, DSA, Tamenglong secretary, Rama Gangmei said at the end of the 15 days long programme, a lot of improvement is visible among the young players attending the programme.
It has also encouraged the players to go out and interact with players of other district to get more exposure, he said and added that as a result the DSA, Tamenglong has decided to send their first ever team to the football festival.
He further lauded the All Manipur Football Association for organizing and bringing such developmental programme in the district.
Speaking at the function, DSA, Tamenglong president R Adi while lauding the AMFA for organizing such programmes, said the improvement would have been more visible if the period of the programme was a little longer.
He further appealed to the state body to organized many such programmes in the district in the future to encourage the young players of the district.
Frequent holding of such programmes will also save many youths from being attracted towards drugs or other anti-social activities, he continued.
AMFA assistant general secretary, L Jyotirmoy Roy who attended as the chief guest of the function said, it is encouraging and heart-warming for AMFA that so many young players have participated in the first programme.
He continued that he will try to organize a second phase of the programme in the near future for both boys and girls.
He said such developmental programmes are not organized in any other states of the country.
Around six-seven players from the state are called for trial selection of the National team every year, he said.
“This has been possible only because of such developmental programmes.”
He continued that now that the developmental programme has reached the district, players from the district could be called for the state team and subsequently reached the national platform.
The young players should keep on practicing on the basics imparted by the coaches during the 15 days. He continued the players should not forget about their studies, but should make football and their studies go hand in hand to be successful in life.
Meanwhile, AMFA executive council member and DSA, Tamenglong representative K Hemandro (Momo) assured to sponsor the jerseys, socks, lodging and fooding for the players of the U-13 Tamenglong team during the state football festival.
He said he will soon donate a set of nets to DSA, Tamenglong.
He also assured all possible help to the district in promoting football.
Meanwhile, AMFA member S Nabakumar made a personal donation of a computer set to the DSA, Tamenglong yesterday as he had promised during the opening session of the football programme.
He expressed his believe that the computer set will help the district association in its smooth running and promote football in the district.
Meanwhile, a friendly match was played between the young players attending the programme during its concluding day yesterday.
After the end of the match, the players were given participation certificates.
The concluding day function was also attended by office bearers of the DSA and guardians and parents of the young players.
The programme was inaugurated on July 17 at the Lower ground/Mini stadium Tamenglong attended by 50 young players under the watchful eyes of two AMFA coaches.