The much-awaited Nagaland Super League (NSL) is set to officially launch in December 2024, with plans to become one of the state’s biggest sports events. The league is a joint initiative between the Government of Nagaland, the Nagaland Football Association, and the Nagaland Olympic Association, and aims to establish itself as the premier football league in the region.
The first edition of the Nagaland Super League will feature 8 franchises, with matches taking place across two venues: the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Kohima and the newly constructed football stadium at the Police Complex in Chümoukedima.
In an exciting development, the NSL Media have announced an attractive total prize pool of Rs 10 million (1 crore), which will be distributed among the top-performing teams, from the league winner to the team finishing in eighth place. Additionally, each participating team will receive a share of the league’s revenue, including ticket sales and sponsorship deals. Individual awards will also be presented throughout the tournament, including honors for Player of the Match, Best Goalkeeper, Most Promising Player, Most Valuable Player, and the Golden Boot.
The Nagaland Super League aims to create an inclusive sports culture within the state, offering a platform for local football talent to reach new heights. The league will be widely covered across various media platforms, including live streaming, to engage a wider audience. The schedule of the league is being planned to climax in a playoff format to ensure a more exciting culmination.
Registration for franchises and clubs is already open, with the Governing Body reporting strong interest from local sports enthusiasts. The organizers are encouraging more clubs and parties to come forward for the registration process.
“The league aspires to create a sports and club culture in Nagaland, promote the cause of sports and games, provide opportunities for our talents to reach the highest levelsand contribute toward the unity of our people through the platform of sports and games, amongst a host of other aims and objectives,” NSL Media said. “Many other verticals like entrepreneurship, employment generation and innovative start-ups are expected to get a boost through the launch of the league,” it added.
The organisers have called on all stakeholders and sports enthusiasts to collaborate with the league to help promote Nagaland and support the vision of empowering the youth through football and sports.