AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: Representatives from the eight states in the northeast region met in Shillong, Meghalaya, earlier this week as the city celebrated its love for football with the Durand Cup 2024 semi-final between Shillong Lajong FC and NorthEast United FC with a common objective of chalking out detailed plans of helping the game grow further in the region.

The meeting was attended by the Presidents, Secretaries and senior officials of eight states – Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.   

Speaking about the meet, AIFF Treasurer and Arunachal Pradesh Football Association Secretary, Mr. Kipa Ajay, said: “It is our aim to help grow football in the northeast region through cooperation and communication. We had fruitful discussions on different aspects like grassroots programmes, development of women’s football, and spreading beach soccer and futsal to different areas.

“Everyone agreed that football events could be held during the different festivals that are held locally in the region,” he said.

The officials also discussed the possibility of resuming the Dr. T. Ao Football Tournament, which was discontinued after the COVID-19 pandemic.