North East Football League takes shape

GANGTOK,: The North East Football Development Council (NEFDC) convened its executive meeting on January 3 in Guwahati. The meeting brought together representatives from all eight North Eastern States along with key invited vendors to chart the strategic roadmap for the establishment and rollout of the proposed North East Football League, informs a press release.

The proposed league aims to build a strong football ecosystem in the North East, nurturing local talent, strengthening infrastructure, and creating a sustainable competitive platform that can showcase the region’s immense footballing potential at the national and international levels.

Delegates engaged in in-depth deliberations on league structure, operational frameworks, commercial partnerships, grassroots development pathways, and implementation timelines. The initiative is being viewed as a landmark movement to unify the football ambitions of the entire region under a single, professional league model.

The meeting was chaired by Sikkim Football Association president Menla Ethenpa, who is also the senior vice president of North East Football Development Council. Ethenpa underscored the need for collective commitment from all stakeholders to ensure the success of the league. “The North East has always been a cradle of football talent. With the North East Football League, we are creating a platform that will not only elevate regional football but also position the North East as the next major football destination in India,” he said.

Others who attended the meeting were Kipa Ajay (Arunachal Pradesh), Hamlet Doling (Meghalaya), Amit Choudhury (Tripura), Tato (Mizoram), Jyotirmoy (Manipur), Phurba Sherpa (Sikkim) and Heren Gogoi (Assam).

“With unified participation from all eight States and strong interest from partners, the North East Football League is poised to become a transformative project for football development in the region, marking a new era for the sport in the North East,” the release adds.