NAMSAI, Jan 27: The Indrajit Namchoom Arunachal League 2020 was declared open by Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein in a glittering ceremony held here at the Multipurpose Cultural Hall on Sunday last. 
The football league is being organized in memory of Arunachal’s legendary footballer of the yesteryear Indrajit Namchoom who was also popularly known as the ‘Pathfinder in Sports’. 
Deputy Chief Minister who is also the Chief Patron of the league expressing happiness said that though late, Arunachal Pradesh Football Association (APFA) has recognised the legend’s contributions to football by launching the league in his name.
The formal kick off has been scheduled for February 12 next at the Sangey Lhaden Sports Academy, added Mein and shared a brief history of Indrajit Namchoom's humble beginnings in Chongkham village where he had his primary education, his exposure to the game after being sent to Guwahati for further studies and his subsequent rise in stature as an outstanding footballer in the entire Northeast during the latter part of 50s and 60s. Indrajit’s successful tenure in major clubs in Guwahati including the Guwahati Town Club, earning captainship of the Indian Junior team and leading the national team in Saigon (now known as Ho Chi Minh City) in Vietnam were recalled by Mein.
Terming Namsai as a cradle of talents who need a proper platform to blossom, he recalled the contributions of many players emerging from the district including his elder brother late Sujit Mein. 
On the occasion, DCM appealed the MoS (Independent) Youth Affairs & Sports Kiren Rijiju to allocate one out of the twelve sanctioned football stadiums at Namsai to be named after Late Indrajit Namchoom and exuded confidence that with such facility, the area can produce more national and international level sporting figures.  He also informed that during kick off, former teammates and contemporaries of the late legend will be invited from Assam. 
During the launch, eldest son of Late Indrajit Namchoom, Dr. Anand Namchoom who was present along with his family recapitulated his father’s contribution to football, his becoming a bureaucrat and later after plunging into active politics his tenure as the first Minister of Sports & Youth Affairs from sporting background in the state. 
Dr. Girish Phukan recalled late Namchoom as a bosom friend and how they played together in their earlier days. Another teammate Tusen Borah who  
himself was a football star during his days while sharing his personal memory, termed the legend as an institution  and credited his footballing inputs to the late legend and was all praise of his humbleness, charm, inspirational role and magnificent character. Secretary APFA, Kipa Ajay and President of Namsai District Football Association Chow Mahajini Choupoo also spoke on the occasion.
The Champions Trophy and the league’s official ball was also launched. DCM Media Cell

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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