The highly anticipated North East Zone Inter-University (Men) Football Tournament kicked off on November 11 at Nagaland University, Lumami. The five-day event, featuring university teams from the eight northeastern states, commenced with an impressive inaugural ceremony at the Dr. T. Ao Football Ground.
The ceremony was chaired by Dr. Ashutosh Tripathi, Assistant Professor, Department of EVS, Nagaland University, who set a motivational tone for the tournament by quoting Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho: “I learned all about life with a ball at my feet.”
DDS Dr. Harish Kumar Tiwari, Organizing Secretary of the tournament, delivered the Welcome Address, highlighting the contribution of Dr. T. Ao, the first football captain of independent India, to both the nation and Nagaland. Dr. Tiwari emphasized that the tournament is not just a competition but a celebration of talent, unity, and sportsmanship.
The Guest of Honour, Dr. Abemo, Registrar of Nagaland University, noted that this was a milestone event, as it marked the first time the university was hosting a Northeast football tournament. He stressed the importance of sports in personal development and fostering unity, expressing hope that the players would make a lasting impact on the local community.
The Chief Guest, Prof. J.K. Patnaik, Vice Chancellor of Nagaland University, welcomed teams from across the Northeast, acknowledging the logistical challenges of the region but underscoring the growing influence of Northeastern players in national sports, especially the Indian Super League (ISL). He paid tribute to Dr. T. Ao, recalling his famous quote: “You play football with foot, not boot,” and encouraged the players to show sportsmanship.
The ceremony, attended by faculty, staff, and students, featured a vibrant cultural performance by NUSU (L), with the vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Ashish Kumar, Hindi Officer.
Following the oath-taking ceremony, the tournament was officially opened. The first match saw Tripura University defeat Manipur University 5-4 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw. Guwahati University won the second match, defeating Tezpur University 1-0.
According to a press release by NU PRO Peter Ki, the tournament begins with knockout rounds, with the top four teams advancing to league matches. The best-performing teams will proceed to the All India Inter-Zonal Tournament at GNA University in Phagwara, Punjab. The top eight teams from India’s eight zones will qualify for the Khelo India University Games (KIUG) 2024-25 session.
Nineteen university teams have registered for the tournament, representing all eight northeastern states. Matches will be held at the Dr. T. Ao Football Ground and Mokokchung local ground. The tournament is organized under the auspices of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), New Delhi.