Kohima | July 21
H. Shangki Konyak is one of the senior most women footballers in Nagaland who started her footballing career in 2008 and is yet to hang up her boots. She was also part of the Nagaland team for the recent Northeast Women Football Championship that lost their qualification for semis by a whisker. She also scored a stunning long range goal in the tournament against the Assam team.
She can play as a right defender or as a defensive midfielder who started her footballing career as an academy product of the IGS Academy Kohima. She first represented the state in 2009 and continued till 2018 until the covid-19 pandemic arrived. The midfielder, sharing her experience, said it was really tough to be back in the pitch after a gap of 4 years but said participating in the first North East Women’s League was a great opportunity, especially for the youngsters.
She viewed that the team was one of the strongest teams in this tournament but failed to qualify for the semifinal round due to lack experience and exposure. “As we all know, in Nagaland, we don’t usually have women’s football tournaments,” she pointed out. Konyak feels that this kind of opportunity and exposure will surely help the youngsters excel further in their career.
“We (girls) hardly get this kind of opportunity once or twice in a year to represent our state but it will be good if we get more exposure as we lack experience and I should say that, to improve women’s football in Nagaland, we should focus on grassroots level for girls in every district of Nagaland and there should be Women’s football tournament in Nagaland so that we will develop competitive spirit. IGS sports academy girls football alone is not enough to compete with others. “With whom will they compete with as we all know there is only 1 women’s football team in our state,” she remarked.
Konyak also thanked the YRS Department for giving them the opportunity to participate in the first North East Women’s League. “I hope and pray that we’ll get this kind of exposure and support even in the days to come,” said Konyak.