In an exclusive interview with Nagaland Tribune, Kethosituo Sekhose, Director of Youth Resources and Sports (DYRS), highlighted that the department is actively seeking opportunities to connect local players with clubs and professional instituted outside State, including the international level.
To take sports to higher and more professional level, Sekhose informed that the Department has the Euro corridor tour planned out where special selection trial camp will be organised along with a number of activities that will include female sportspersons. “We are looking forward to make players from Nagaland more professional in their outlets. Most of our players has been playing because of their hobby and the time has come to make the hobby earn them money,” said Sekhose.
In this regard, the department will be collaborating with institutes from various states in the country and beyond to promote Naga youths, not only in the field of sports but other youth related activities such as tourism, Eco tourism and areas where their skills can be explored.
“Till today we have only been looking at traditional sports such as football, volley ball , wrestling etc but we are looking forward to new ventures such as Esports where the incomes are in terms of five, six figures,” mentioned Sekhose reflecting on the need to embrace and adapt emerging sports which will provide opportunities for athletes and a stable income.
Some of the new upcoming programs includes archery tournament, football tournament and wrestling for the Khelo India Centre. A league called the “Baby league” will also be introduced where they will be organising and inviting interested children who are below 12 to play football. “They will be trained and later divided into groups and play league matches,” said Sekhose hoping that this will give young players the first taste of what career opportunity awaits them.
“We are also looking forward to organise a special training camp for our football team. If everything goes well, we will be organising the Northeast football league in our state along with the NFA (Nagaland football Association),” updated the Director.
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A special event for Taekwondo-State level Taekwondo tournament- will be hosted in collaboration with the Nagaland Teakwondo Association. Sekhose further informed that State plans to send a team for the Subroto Mukerjee cup. “Nagaland has always played well but was never able to reach the National level because of the age tampering issue. This year we will be very strict with the selection and players will be screened using the latest available technology that is the bone skeletal measures. First there will be district level selection where schools will be called to participate and then will play for the state level,” said Sekhose. He expressed the hope that the players will perform well and even represent the country one day.
The Director also expressed enthusiasm on the recent selection of 23 year old football player Mecievi Khieya who was selected by the Thonburi united where he will be earning around Rs.50000 per month.
