Youth from Kichutip Ward in Mokokchung, with support from parents, launched a two-week U-15 football free coaching program at Imkongmeren Sports Complex on 9 December. Over 20 children, aged between 6 and 15, participated in the inaugural training session, marking a promising start to the initiative aimed at developing young football talent.
What began as a grassroots effort by seven Kichutip Ward youths to engage children in physical activity has grown into a fully-fledged program. The coaching is now conducted under AIFF D License-certified coach Rongsennungba, a former player for Sangpang Football Club, along with Assistant Coach Tia.
The journey of this program began with seven youths from Mokokchung—Noksenzoba, Chasü, Temjentoshi, Metsübo, Mayangnok, Kumsangpong, and Odiyanger—who accessed the Mojabi futsal turf in Salangtem Ward every Saturday and during holidays. They invested Rs 1,000 per hour for two-hour training sessions to support the children.
Inspired by their commitment, the parents of participating children stepped in to financially support the program, which allowed for the hiring of certified coaches.
For Alemwati, a parent actively involved in the initiative, the inspiration to raise funds stemmed from the urgent need to revive football in their ward. “Football in our ward was at zero back then. We even struggled to fill lineups when invited to tournaments,” he shared. “We realized the importance of investing in grassroots development to ensure that we don’t face such challenges in the future.”
At the same time, Alemwati observed the growing enthusiasm and interest among both children and youths. He believed that investing in these efforts could elevate Mokokchung’s footballing standards.
When asked whether such support indicated that parents saw football as a viable career for their children, he said, “We have been focusing on schools a lot. Last year, three of our children were selected during a trial by a club in Kerala, but as parents, we usually feel they are too young to be sent far away from us. Therefore, we declined the selection. This has been the scenario.”
However, he added, “We might consider sending them to Kohima, Dimapur, or Guwahati if our children show interest”.
Chasü, one of the youths, called the parents’ initiative “unexpected and huge,” stating that it has given them new aims and objectives. “Initially, we focused on something very small, but now we hope that in the days to come, we can expand our initiative beyond Kichutip and Salangtem Ward.”
When asked whether he thought the program might stop after a while, he said, “Being a huge football fan, I am confident that it will never stop until we are bedridden.”
He also expressed hope that through this initiative, the “boys of Kichutip Ward” would face no difficulties in competing in tournaments like the MDFA Trophy, inter-ward tournaments, or the Assembly Constituency tournament.
Coach Rongsennungba called the initiative a “great idea” and expressed hope that similar programs would be organized annually. Addressing the decline of football in Mokokchung, he cited the “lack of coaching” as a primary reason.
“In Mokokchung, we only have the Moanungsang Memorial Sporting Club, which organizes coaching maybe once a year. We don’t have many tournaments, and on top of that, we lack proper coaching. All of this has contributed to the decline of football here,” he said.
When asked about his approach to coaching, he said, “They’re all U-14, so I plan to focus on small-sided games and teach them how to conduct themselves professionally.”
Imkumniba, the Kichutip Ward Councilor and special guest at the event, who also oversees youth resources and sports in the MMC, told MT that a sports academy is a crucial need in Mokokchung. However, he acknowledged the challenges of acquiring land.
“There is no budget for purchasing land for such projects,” he said, while also highlighting his goals for improving the sports sector. He noted that concrete decisions could only be made after the MMC budget layout is finalized.
The event also included an inaugural prayer offered by Kichutip Youth Mentor, Meyukumla.
