Shillong Feb 6: The eight states in the North Eastern Region have floated a new football body – North East Football Association (NEFA) – and will oversee development of football in the North Eastern states and liaise with the Central and state governments and work to set up a new football competition which will be among states of region in the country.
The association was floated during a convention of football association officials from each state of the North East held in Shillong on February 5 and discussed about the future of football in the eight states of the North East.
During the convention Larsing Ming Sawyan from Meghalaya was elected as President of the newly formed North East Football Association.
The other office bearers include vice presidents – Menla Ethenpa (Sikkim), Hemendra Nath Brahma (Assam), Lalnghinglova Hmar (Mizoram), General Secretary Kipa Ajay (Arunachal Pradesh) and Treasurer, Amit Chowdhury (Tripura).
Two joint secretaries will be appointed one each by Manipur and Nagaland.
In his address, Ming said that that the North Eastern states held an integral place in Indian football as well as the potential to develop further.
Stating that there are states that have seen steady developments in football, and states that lag behind, Ming said stressed that it is the responsibility of all to ensure their development is up to pace with everyone.
“We will reach out to the Central government to see that we have progress in all the areas for potential development. Devotees for football in the North East have stepped up for a North Eastern Association to come into existence, and we should not be an association that raises its voice just for the sake of raising. We need to ensure our voice and our step go alongside each other,” he said.
The convention agreed that the North East is a hotbed for footballing talent in the country, and such talent and football itself should be developed at a greater pace as well as cooperating on different problems faced by each state.
The association shall respect and work alongside the existing All India Football Association calendar. It will look to augment the development of football in the North East alongside the efforts of the AIFF in football development.
It will also look to provide necessary aids to the state associations that are lagging further behind.
