Dr T Ao Regional Football Academy in Nagaland: Rio

Kohima, Mar 25 : Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today told the assembly that the government was in the process of establishing a Regional Football Academy with support from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Presenting the budget speech on the floor of the House today, Mr Rio informed that the sports academy to be named after Dr T Ao, one of Indias greatest football players, would aim to produce quality footballers and motivate youngsters from all over the region.

Regretting that Dr T Aos contribution to the nation, who was the first independent Indian Football Team Captain for London Olympic in 1947, has never received appropriate recognition, the chief minister informed that the state government has recently taken a policy decision to present all awards to winners of the State Sports Award at Raj Bhavan to encourage and felicitate the achievers.

He also informed that Nagaland is a participating member of the Indian cricket family. A Cricket Academy in the state is scheduled to be functional from this year. The establishment of the Nagaland Cricket Stadium in Dimapur will give the game a major boost. ''I am confident some of our own cricketers will someday reach the highest level of the game,'' he averred.