Correspondent
KOHIMA, JUN 13 (NPN): The opening ceremony of the Grassroots Football Festival – Baby League 2026 was held on Saturday at the Indira Gandhi (IG) Stadium, Kohima, marking another milestone in Nagaland’s efforts to promote football at the grassroots level.
Speaking as the special guest, secretary of the Department of Youth Resources & Sports, Anthony Ngullie, recalled that the Baby League was launched in 2024 with participation from four age groups and around 100 players. He expressed satisfaction at the rapid growth of the league, which now features 402 participants.
Ngullie emphasized that the initiative aims to encourage young children to take up football early and nurture their talent. He highlighted the department’s guiding motto, “Catch them right and teach them right,” stressing that sports is not only about competition but also about building friendships, instilling discipline and promoting a healthy lifestyle. He added that the department is closely observing the league to identify promising young players.
The programme began with an invocation by associate pastor of PCRC, Vikhoto Zao, while Senior state sports coach, Khriehutuo Tsira, chaired the event.