Arunachal CM exhorts footballers to keep state's flag flying

ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki has exhorted the Arunachal football team to work hard to keep state's soccer flag flying high at national level.

The team led by captain Tarh Rakumar, coach Kipa Bharat and assistant coach T B Wanja called on Tuki at his office yesterday and sought the support of the government in improving sports infrastructure, particularly Rajiv Gandhi Stadium and other facilities to improve the standard of the game.

"Until and unless the players practice in a good stadium, they cannot compete in regional and national level," Arunachal Pradesh Football Association ( APFA) assistant secretary Ajay Kipa, who accompanied the team along with secretary G Doke, quoted both the coaches as informing the CM.

Highlighting the priority that his government gives to games and sports sector, Tuki assured immediate steps to improve sports infrastructure.

The APFA members conveyed their displeasure about the unprofessional management of National Level North East Sports Competition (NLNESC)-2014 by the sports & youth affairs department to the CM and pleaded for remedial steps to avoid repetition of such blunders in future.

Though football made entry into the just concluded NLNESC-2014 late only at the intervention of the CM, lady luck played spoilsports as the Arunachal team lost opportunities by a flicker to win better position, instead of third position.

APFA president Takam Sanjoy, while facilitating the players at a function here late Sunday evening, said that victory and defeat are two sides of the same coin in every game.

The Arunachal team has created a record in sports history of the state by winning bronze medal which is an achievement to energise the team for the future.

He said, "We defeated Tripura in the first match by 1-0 with a lone goal by Pani Raju, but lost to Mizoram by 1-0 and entered semi-final in which Arunachal was defeated by Meghalaya by 6-5 in penalty shootout. Arunachal took on and defeated Mizoram by 1-0 (Scorer Techi Tasar) to win the third place".

Sanjoy appreciated the all out efforts of both team coaches which helped win glory.