Arunachal Highlanders Club Launches First Futsal Team of AP
The seven-day tournament will feature six teams. The six teams who will be a part of the league are Meghalaya Thunders, Assam Titans, Mizo Falcons, Apunba Manipur, Nagaland Super 5 and Arunachal Highlanders.
Itanagar
The Arunachal Highlanders Club, the first Futsal Team from Arunachal Pradesh was officially launched today. Founded by Langda Mina Bulang, a young female futsal player, the Arunachal Highlanders Club will partake in the North East Futsal League (NEFL) which will be held at the NC Bordolio Indoor Stadium in Guwahati from 25 to 31 August.
NEFL will be a major league involving all 8 North East (NE) states. The league is for mixed team format where one female player must be on the pitch during the entire match and can be subbed only with another female player.
The seven-day tournament will feature six teams. The six teams who will be a part of the league are Meghalaya Thunders, Assam Titans, Mizo Falcons, Apunba Manipur, Nagaland Super 5 and Arunachal Highlanders.
For each team 2 marquees players, one male and one female have been allotted on lottery system to play along with the local talents for gain more exposure.
Mario Navarro Penalver from Spain has been assigned to play along with the Arunachal Highlanders. He will also coach the team as well as play along with the local talents in the league. Another marquee player Paula Boza Gill will also join the Highlanders as mentor as well as player. She is also from Spain.
Tumker Sora, Team Manager of Arunachal Highlander Club informed that a total of 7 players from the state have been selected to represent the state after conducting a trial and the marquees players have been coaching them at Sangay Lhaden Sports Academy.
Out of 7 players from the state, 3 female players have been selected; they are Langda Mina who is also the founder of Highlanders, Gaini Ramching Mara and Taba Sama. The male selected players are Romik Tapa, Hage Takang, Karlo Bui, Byabang Agio.
The league will begin on August 25 and the Highlanders will play its first on August 26 against Meghalaya Team.
In the league, each team will play 5 matches and each team will play once with each team. After 5 matches each, the top two teams will the final.
During a press briefing here at Arunachal Press Club, Langda who is the Managing Director of the Arunachal Pradesh Futsal Team cum Organizing committee members of NEFL said that their mission is to create and develop a sustainable foundation for the sport of Futsal as a sporting career alternatives by providing the best education, facilities and showcase to participate in the game.
She said that they aim to access to thousands of untapped talent from the state and provide them with opportunities to get exposure and experience from other foreign players.
She also said that mixed teams with female participants will encourage social inclusion and women empowerment.
Langda also added that the NEFL aims to promote health and fitness for North East youth and showcase the new sport in the region.
She further added that the vision of NEFL is to create Northeast India’s first ever exclusive mega sports league with the North East Futsal League
