Nagaland Super League (NSL), which was launched as a professional football league in Nagaland, received significant attention and praise for its organisation and impact, with the inaugural season becoming a major success, marked by overwhelming support from fans and strong commitment from various stakeholders, including the state government, sports bodies, sponsors, corporate, etc.
NSL also set a benchmark for future leagues in the state and generated interest at the grassroots level, with efforts to involve schools and youth in the sport. The league’s popularity and the excitement around it have helped shift the perception of football in the state, moving it closer to being viewed as a legitimate career path for young players.
The league however faced challenges, such as limited infrastructure and resources, which was however assured and addressed by chief minister Dr Neiphiu Rio, bringing in assurances for better infrastructure and more seating capacity.
Nagaland Post, the official print media partner for the NSL, held an exclusive interview with Athletic Federation of India vice-president, Nagaland Olympic Association (NOA) secretary general and a member of NSL’s governing body Abu Metha, who shared the journey of the first season and what lies ahead for football and NSL in the state.
NP: Congratulations on the successful completion of the NSL. How does it feel to see the vision materialise into such a vibrant football league in the state?
Metha: It is immensely satisfying. When viewed collectively, the league was a great success. Of course, nothing is ever perfect and there are always areas for improvement.
Even the best events in the world have room to grow. But in my view, the inaugural edition of the NSL was an overwhelming success. That success was made possible by many factors, including the incredible support from football fans, committed franchisees, and efforts from the Nagaland Football Association and NOA, and support of the state government.
It was truly a team effort, and that teamwork ensured the league’s success, especially considering this was just the first edition.
We also had to address a lot of initial skepticism. There was a trust deficit because a league in the past had not succeeded. Some clubs even personally approached me with their concerns. So we knew we had to be strategic and fully committed. I believe, for many, the league exceeded expectations. I’m very happy with what we’ve achieved.
NP: What were some of the biggest challenges that you faced?
Metha: Organising an event in Nagaland is always challenging, especially a sports event. The biggest hurdles were infrastructure and resources. We don’t have the kind of sporting ecosystem.
Take the Chümoukedima Football Stadium, for example. It is the first and only dedicated football stadium in Nagaland. For a proper league, we need multiple stadiums. Eventually, we had to narrow it down to just two venues and take complete control over planning and execution.
But infrastructure is more than just the playing field. We needed locker rooms, galleries, media centres, commentary booths, telecast facilities, none of which were there. We had to create everything from scratch.
Then there’s the issue of funding. The state government supported us with Rs 4 crore, which seems like a lot of money. But Rs 1 crore went into prize money, and 20% went into taxes and GST.
Without IDAN stepping in and helping with sponsorships, we couldn’t have pulled it off at the scale we did. So yes, the challenges were real, but we managed them through teamwork and determination.
NP: With NSL now in the picture, do you feel football would be viewed as a viable profession by the youth?
Metha: Absolutely. Football has always been the most popular sport in Nagaland. We have a rich legacy. Dr T Ao was the first Olympic football captain of independent India in 1948. We keep talking about Dr T Ao, but we have failed to progress beyond that. After him, we haven’t seen many sporting icons, except for Chekrovolu in archery and Hotoshe in the Paralympics.
But I feel NSL is now changing that narrative. I believe football in Nagaland will never be the same again. There comes a time in everything where somebody comes and sets a benchmark and it changes everything.
In 1983, when India won the cricket World Cup, it changed everything. From the national perspective to national outlook to the global scene, it’s not just cricket, everything changed. So, I feel NSL is now going to change everything.
From the beginning, we wanted NSL to be a professional league. We introduced strict franchise guidelines and regulations. Now, there’s a visible pathway for young footballers. And beyond just players, there are new opportunities in sports management, media, marketing, and many more.
NP: NSL has brought excitement over football at the grassroots level. Is there a plan to expand into school-level leagues?
Metha: Definitely. From the day NSL was launched, grassroots development has been a priority. We are distributing thousands of footballs to schools in every district through the Education Department, in partnership with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). These balls are coming from the federation and it will reach the schools.
We are also working on an education programme to train our physical education teachers as coaches, referees, and technical staff, because talent cannot be nurtured properly without trained professionals at the grassroots.
Not only that. Every NSL team is required to have at least six U-20 players, with at least two in the starting eleven, and all must play a minimum of six games each. So all this due diligence and monitoring is being done by the governing body. While promoting the game as a professional league, we are also conducting outreach through schools.
NP: The first season was a hit. But for long-term success, sustained sponsorship is vital for sustenance. Do you feel that corporate sponsorship would continue so as to make the league bigger?
Metha: Yes, and that’s something I’m deeply focused on. The government has promised support for the initial years, but our goal is for NSL to stand on its own feet in the next five years. This requires strengthening the foundation now.
We have also seen great response from fans. During the playoffs and finals, we had to shut down the box office as the entire stadium was filled. This shows there’s a huge potential for revenue generation.
Also, the NSL has opened up the eyes of the sports fraternity, showing that football is not just a 90-minute enjoyment but a six-hour experience, including fan zones, live music, food stalls, merch stands, season tickets, and corporate boxes. All this gives you a six, seven-hour experience, not just 90 minutes of enjoyment.
People here may not have experienced events like the Champions League or Premier League, but those who have will understand it’s not just sport, it’s a full-fledged industry.
We need the support of the corporate and continue partnership with them. Nagaland’s football has proven that we have huge following. Visibility is there. So I’m sure with that sort of visibility, corporate interest will increase.
We also need to monetise everything about the league, from tickets to merchandise and even pay-per-view. That’s how we ensure players benefit directly.
NP: Can we expect any infrastructure upgrades, particularly at Chümoukedima Stadium so as to accommodate more fans?
Metha: During the playoffs and finals, people were scrambling for tickets, which is a good sign. For the first time, people in Nagaland were willing to buy tickets to attend football matches.
We even increased ticket prices during the final stages, and the demand still shot up. While it’s unfortunate that some couldn’t get in, it also shows the league’s success and popularity.
Our chief minister Dr Neiphiu Rio also publicly acknowledged the need for bigger stadiums during the closing ceremony, and I’ve been informed that the department concerned is working on it.
I would not be the right person to comment whether it has been sanctioned or not, but since he made a public commitment, I believe it will be fulfilled.
We are already in the process of planning season two and we need bigger capacity stadiums and more stadiums so that more fans can enjoy them. All this has to be again, you know, synergised.
We can have stadiums in Tuensang, Kiphire, Peren, and in other far-flung districts, but are we ready logistically? Can teams travel to and from? Will the teams get 48 hours break between matches? Do we have proper connectivity? These are key questions. So I think for the next two or three seasons, we have to work within the limitations that we have.
NP: The Multi-Disciplinary Sports Complex, specifically the football stadium. Do you feel that if the stadium had been completed, the NSL would have been much bigger? And going forward, if the Government of India or the state government allocates necessary funds to complete it, can football become something even bigger?
Metha: Definitely. If that stadium had been ready, we would have seen much larger crowds — located right in the heart of Dimapur, the state’s commercial hub, support and turnout would have been overwhelming.
We hosted the Dr T Ao tournament eight to nine years ago at Dimapur District Sports Council (DDSC) Stadium. It was an unbelievable event, but the city suffered. No parking, massive congestion, the entire city was clogged before the match. While football fans enjoyed it, the city bore the brunt.
In contrast, I feel Chümoukedima is slightly better. The entry roads have improved and though parking isn’t perfect, we managed. For the final night, we used three separate grounds for parking. We’ve learned lessons this time. The next tournament will definitely be more exciting.
NP: Financial stability plays a huge role in football. For next season, is the NSL governing body considering implementing Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations?
Metha: We have not set a ceiling limit this time, and I don’t think we are big enough yet to enforce one. But yes, disparity can happen. However, at the end of the day, our focus is the footballer. If the funds invested are directly benefiting the players, then I don’t see a problem.
NP: You are the vice-president of AIFF, secretary general of NOA, and deeply involved with youth and sports. What personal significance does the NSL hold for you?
Metha: I am very passionate about sport. I was a sportsperson myself, represented the state at the national level in multiple disciplines, and was fortunate to move into sports administration.
Sports is very close to my heart. It can only be meaningfully pursued and promoted if you’re genuinely passionate. Maybe some join for benefits, but there’s no room for that here.
Also in Nagaland, those involved in sports associations are contributing personally. In other states, elections are held for president-ship and office. NOA and Nagaland sports community are the only entities in India without legal cases against them. In other states, you will find dozens of cases, stay orders, and so on. Here, we work as one team, leaving politics out.
Personally, I believe our youth have the talent and capability to reach the top. If I can contribute even a little to help them achieve their dreams, that is the greatest satisfaction I could get.
My vision is to see Naga youth competing at the Asian Games, Olympics, and winning medals, making Nagaland and country proud. When they succeed, they will inspire others in music, academics, science, across all fields.
Sport is one major arena where Nagaland can rise. It is a multi-billion-dollar industry. Nagas have to get on that bus and we cannot afford to miss it. And the NSL has just proven that we can do it.
NP: Five to ten years from now, how do you envision football, or specifically, NSL to be like?
Metha: Starting next year, I definitely see more of our players making it into the I-League, and making it to the ISL in two to three years. But let us also be realistic, India is not a football superpower. We are still outside the top 100 in the world rankings.
While we must promote football, it being the most popular sport, we also need to focus on other disciplines. Nagaland needs to invest more in sport. We are not investing enough yet. Efforts are being made, but we have to step up if we truly want to win Olympic medals.
NP: When can we expect the second season of the NSL?
Metha: This year. Technically, the season we just completed was supposed to be last year’s. But because of dynamics, funding issues, incomplete infrastructure, we had to postpone it.
Now, the plan is to realign it with the national football calendar, so the upcoming season will run through 2024–2025.