Maharana Athletics Club and Cotton University reminisce about Dr. T. Ao
Officials from the departments of Youth Resources & Sports (YRS), Information & Public Relations (IPR) & Nagaland Football Association (NFA) visited the Maharana Club and Cotton University, Guwahati on November 9.
According to DIPR, this initiative is being carried out by the government of Nagaland as part of the yearlong celebrations honouring legendary footballer, Dr. T. Ao from Changki Village on his 100th Birth Anniversary. He was the first Olympian from Nagaland who captained the Indian Football Team at the Summer London Olympics Games in 1948. The main objective of this tour is to meet and interact with officials of the Maharana Club and faculty members of Cotton University where T. Ao had been a student and started his career as a professional footballer.
During the interaction, the Nagaland delegates apprised Maharana Club members and Cotton University faculty about the initiatives and programs undertaken by the government of Nagaland so far. The state delegation also invited them to be a part of the culmination program of Dr. T. Ao’s yearlong anniversary celebrations which is slated to be held in Kohima on January 28, 2019.
President, Maharana Athletics Club, Rana Pratap Bordoloi thanked the officials from Nagaland for visiting the club and assured them that he would be a part of the culmination program next year. He said that it was under the leadership of Dr. T. Ao that the club gained popularity in terms of fame and recognition all over India. He said Dr. T. Ao represented the club in various tournaments across the country and won trophies at different levels. Bordoloi further added that the club still remembers him and his contemporaries as they were the players who had left an indelible mark in the history of football not only in Assam but also at the national level.
Vice chancellor, Cotton University, professor BC Goswami, interacting with the delegation, highly praised the legendary footballer for his immense contributions and leadership provided not only to the University but also the country at large. “We are short in stature but endowed with talents”, he said. “If the Chinese and Koreans can do it why can’t we?”, he asked. Goswami further opined that the extensive training and infrastructure should be areas of focus to improve the capabilities of sports persons on the North East. Recalling the history of college tournaments, he said prior to India’s independence there were only two colleges in Assam namely, Murari Chand College, Sylhet now in Bangladesh and Cotton College, Guwahati. They used to play football matches every year but unfortunately Cotton College was defeated every year by MC College for 14 years consecutively. However, after Dr. T. Ao took over as the captain of the college team, they start winning matches which inspires the college even today and cherishes his memory.
Goswami also mentioned that plans were in the works for a new state of the art indoor stadium. He said that the new stadium will be named “Dr. T. Ao Indoor Stadium” and he urged the government of Nagaland to come forward and consider their proposal to build it on a shared basis.
The team was led by additional director, YRS, Rato Pusa. He was accompanied by assistant director, YRS, Jakedovo Chase; APRO, IPR, Nongozo Rikha; video journalist, Bendangsunep Jamir, Former International footballer & holder of ‘B’ license, Roko Angami; junior state coach, Ruopfu Meyase; and head, Youth Development, Football Club Aizawl & the only ‘A’ license holder from Nagaland, William Koso.