Mission Football: APFA inks MoA with Reading FC

ITANAGAR, Sep 30: First a vibrant and proactive Sports Policy and now an engagement that would take soccer – a game played in every village where even grounds are a rarity – to a level never thought before. Chief Minister Nabam Tuki is living his dream and vision for a vibrant sporting sector in Arunachal Pradesh.
Under his supervision, the Arunachal Pradesh Football Association (APFA) this morning entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with an English Premier League (EPL) football club, the London based Reading FC, inking a new chapter in the arena of the game of soccer in the football-frenzy state.
The MoA was signed by Lok Sabha MP Takam Sanjoy, also APFA president, and Tomo Nomuk, Reading FC advisor, on behalf of the premier club in presence of the Chief Minister, Sports Authority of Arunachal (SAA) Chairman Tapuk Taku, MLAs Ralom Borang and Techi Kaso, officers of the SAA and Sports & Youth Affairs department.
“With this (MoA signing) my govt has began a new era in the sporting sector. We plan to start similar initiatives in other sporting sectors too in the future,” said a beaming Chief Minister.
Justifying the initiative for development of soccer, he said the game has immense potential in the youths of the state, which is played with enthusiasm in every village and district of the state. He cited the recent achievements of the Under-19 football team of the state that proved their mettle defeating several developed states of the country.
Tuki said the main objective of giving interest to sports and games is to channelize the energy and potential of youths into gainful activities while keeping them on the mainstream track.

“I have promised to bring our youths to the mainstream – who may have swayed paths due to various social and economical factors – and sports and games sector is the right medium. If I fail to do so, I don’t have the right to sit on this chair (of the Chief Minister),” he asserted.
As per the MoA, Reading FC will station two of its senior coaches in the state to train both players and the local coaching staff initially for a period of six months. They will hold camps across the state, scout young hidden talents and groom them at par with world standards. The focus would be to evolve a future team that would compete with the best in the country and the world.
“The agreement is initially for 6 months but it can be extended if the situation demands so,” Tuki informed.
Further, Reading FC will provide advice and assistance to completely make-over other roles crucial to development of football including referees, lines people and other officials, managers and recruitment, football academies and infrastructure.
“At the end of six months, don’t be surprised to see a sea of change in the football arena of our state,” the Chief Minister, a sports-buff and president of the Arunachal Pradesh Cricket Association, announced. (PRO)