AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: Twenty-one coaches, from the states of Mizoram, Meghalaya, Manipur, Assam, Sikkim, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, formed part of the AIFF Grassroots Leaders Course organized by the Meghalaya Football Association (MFA) in Shillong, Meghalaya. AIFF Head of Grassroots and Instructor Anju Turambekar led the course whereas Arki Nongrum, CEO of Meghalaya Football Association was also present for her assistance.

“The role of football in the sporting culture of the North-Eastern States is evident by the steady influx of talent across all age-groups and if you look at any successful team across the country including the national teams, they all have significant partaking of players from the North-East region,” Turambekar said.

Meghalaya has been at the forefront of several significant development programs recently including the Meghalaya Baby League and an ambitious Grassroots Program reaching out to all parts of the state thanks to the vision and dynamism of the leadership team led by Mr. Larsing Ming Sawyan, Vice President, AIFF as well as President of MFA.

“The North-East zone has a strong footballing culture and we, at the MFA, are making all efforts to initiate Grassroots development programmes that, we believe, are fundamental to take the game forward. We intend to solidify our developmental foundations by creating a larger network of certified Grassroots coaches and stakeholders who are focused on one goal – holistic development of the game and using the power of football to drive change in their communities.” Said Sawyan.

The course was also designed to identify Instructors in North East region who can form part of the Grassroots Development Program in the coming months. Selected candidates will need to attend the first-ever North East - AIFF Grassroots Instructors’ Course which will take place in the month of June, 2019.

“In the near-future, we want our AIFF Grassroots Philosophy to be championed by Instructors who have grown up playing the beautiful game in their respective regions and hence understand their local needs, speak the language and are able to form connections and impact their local coaches in an effective manner,” Turambekar, AFC Grassroots Panel Member, added.