The sight of water leaking from the roof of the Multi-purpose Sports Complex in Mokokchung as the 4th Inter-Ward Volleyball Tournament began should stir more than mild embarrassment. It is a reminder of how deeply neglected our sports infrastructure has become. For a district that has not produced notable sportspersons in a long time, such conditions reveal not only neglect but also the absence of any renewed effort by those responsible for maintaining public sports facilities.
The Multi-purpose Sports Complex is not an old relic; it is a relatively recent public asset meant to promote indoor sports and nurture young talent. Yet, its leaking roof and damp halls expose years of indifference. The situation is no better outside. The adjacent Imkongmeren Sports Complex, the main playground of Mokokchung, remains waterlogged and uneven after every rainfall. What message do such conditions send to aspiring athletes who train with passion but on fields unfit for play?
The issue here is not merely about damaged infrastructure. It is about the collective acceptance of mediocrity and corruption. Each leak, each patch of stagnant water, represents a failure of maintenance, planning, and accountability. Sports infrastructure cannot thrive on occasional repairs or last-minute patchwork before tournaments. It requires consistent investment, transparent oversight, and community engagement.
Mokokchung deserves better. Authorities must take urgent steps to restore and modernize these facilities before they become symbols of decay. Public-private partnerships, district-level maintenance funds, and local sports bodies can ensure sustained upkeep. Above all, there must be a shift in mindset from viewing sports facilities as ornamental projects to treating them as essential community assets.
A district that once prided itself on its sporting spirit must now confront the uncomfortable truth that such pride means little if its athletes continue to train under leaking roofs and on flooded grounds. It is time to fix the structures, and with them, our attitude toward sports development.
