The inaugural Under-15 Futsal Tournament organized by Kichutip Sporting Association (KSA) in Mokokchung has been a timely reminder of the district’s deep love for football. With 32 teams from across Nagaland participating and local leaders showing commitment to youth development, the event has laid the groundwork for a promising future. Yet, amid the cheers and celebrations, an uncomfortable truth lingers — the glaring absence of Ao players in the state football landscape.
Longterok FC President Lanuchuba Imchen’s remarks were a wake-up call. Ao players have historically formed the backbone of Nagaland football, but their near-complete absence in the current state team and the Nagaland Super League (NSL) U-20 Scholarship Team is alarming. As revealed, not a single Ao player is part of the high-performance training program currently underway at the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), India’s elite private training facility. This cohort of players is likely to form the backbone of Nagaland football for the next decade. The lack of representation, especially from Mokokchung town, once considered Nagaland’s football heartland, must spark serious introspection.
As MDFA President N Akok Longkumer aptly pointed out, sports today is no longer just a pastime — it’s an industry, a livelihood, and a platform for transformation. But passion alone won’t bridge the growing gap. Without structured training, scouting, and consistent exposure through academies, even the most talented players will remain undiscovered and unprepared for the demands of professional football.
It is encouraging that Longterok FC is planning to establish a football academy, although its location has yet to be announced. Still, broader, community-supported efforts are urgently needed. Parents, leaders, school authorities, and former players must join hands to identify and guide young talents toward formal academies, where discipline, fitness, and technical skills can be honed. With no formal academy in Mokokchung, this would mean sending young players outside the district. Will parents be willing to let their children pursue football away from home?
Grassroots efforts led by the MDFA are gaining momentum, and Mokokchung’s football ecosystem is becoming more conducive. Yet, in today’s hyper-competitive environment, raw talent alone is not enough. Without professional training, our players cannot keep pace with their peers; and that must change.
One strategic move that football planners in Mokokchung can make is to find ways to send young talents to attend academies elsewhere. Perhaps, instituting a scholarship fund — much like those offered in academics — would be an ideal step. Such an initiative could ease the financial burden on families and open doors for deserving players to access the training and exposure necessary to reach the next level. If Mokokchung truly wants to revive and reclaim its legacy, the time to invest in its youth — both structurally and strategically — is now.