Mizoram launches children’s football league
IN AN effort to promote grassroots football in the northeastern Indian state of Mizoram, Reliance Foundation, the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), has tied up with the state’s football association for a children’s league.
“The Reliance Foundation (RF) and Mizoram Football Association have joined hands to expand, transform and create a complete hyperlocal pathway and decentralised approach to grassroots football in Mizoram through Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) Naupang (Children) League,” the RF said in a statement on Monday (31).
The Naupang League aims to develop local ecosystems and enable aspiring and talented players as young as five to gain competitive and practice exposure, it added. The focus is on a broad base of multi-tier, age-group engagements that operate all through the year and meaningfully engage players.
The RFYC Children League will be hosted in four locations with two
models of the league structure.
The MFA and district football associations will host the leagues in south Mizoram’s Lunglei and Kolasib in the northern part of the state.
The RFYC will operate two leagues in Aizawl and east Mizoram’s Champhai town.
Age categories in this league begin from under-six and go on until under 13 with multiple game formats. The RFYC Naupang (Children) League will be hosted in four locations across the state with two models.
RF Young Champs will further integrate with RF Youth Sports in the region to ensure additional games and competitive exposure to deserving players.
The RF said the Mizoram football ecosystem was set to benefit immensely from Reliance Foundation’s Young Champs as its programmes include coach education and development, referee development and weekly coaching program for children, among others.
Commenting on the partnership, the RF chairperson, Nita M Ambani, said that football was a way of life in Mizoram and that the partnership between RF Young Champions and MFA will provide high quality training to talented boys and girls.
“I’m excited about the immense possibilities it will open up for children in Mizoram, a state that is heavily invested in football. We remain committed to unlocking the potential of grassroots football across India and helping aspiring footballers achieve their full potential,” she added.
Lalnghinglova Hmar, the MFA honorary secretary and AIFF [All
India Football Federation] executive committee member, added that the project could be a game-changer for Mizoram and Indian football.
“We are looking forward to the kick-off and in the same year, the FIFA under 17 Women’s World Cup is in India and the FIFA Men’s World Cup 2022, will give extra enthusiasm to the kids. MFA is glad that Reliance Foundation has been providing a platform to young kids so that they can bring alive their sports dreams” Hmar said.