Assam CM virtually inaugurates foundation stones for football academies

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOKRAJHAR: In a landmark initiative to transform the sports landscape of the Bodoland region, Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday virtually inaugurated the foundation stones for the constructions of ‘Binod (Dabla)’ Football Academy in Kokrajhar for males and ‘Birgwshree’ Football Academy in Udalguri for females. He unveiled the foundation stones of the football academies at the grand closing ceremony of the 1st Bodoland CEM Cup Football Tournament at Kokrajhar SAI Stadium in the presence of BTC chief Pramod Boro, Minister of Sports and Youth Welfare, Assam Nandita Gorlosa, and Minister UG Brahma.

Binod (Dabla) Brahma was a renowned football icon hailing from Banargaon-Khagrabari of Kokrajhar district. He is celebrated for his exceptional skills and contributions to football in the region. As a prominent figure in Bodoland football, he has inspired many young players and fans. His legacy continues to influence the sport in the region, making him a beloved and respected figure in Bodoland's sports community. He also established Baarhoongkha Football Club in Kokrajhar and nurtured hundreds of young footballers. Meanwhile, Birgwshree was a legendary Bodo warrior. She fought with the British soldiers and attacked the Tahsil office of Bijni with the help of Sikhna Jwhwlao (Jaolia Dewan), Tax Collector, under Bhutan king. She attained martyrdom in the fight with the British army in the hills near Aie river.

The Chief of BTC Pramod Boro said that the Government of BTR had taken a pragmatic approach to leverage the sports landscape in Bodoland, focusing on infrastructure development to give facilities to budding talents. He said that the Bodoland CEM Cup Football Tournament was one of the landmark initiatives to explore young footballers from the grassroot level as this tournament was conducted from the VCDC to constituency level and the district to council level where around 70,000 young footballers of 420 VCDCs participated. He also said that to sustain peace, brotherhood, reconciliation, strengthening inter-connections, and to provide platform to football talents, the Government of BTR started the Inter Sixth Schedule Premier League (ISPL) in 2022 and received huge response as 10 football teams from all 6th schedule councils of Northeast joined the ISPL. Boro said that the council had decided to release funds worth Rs 2 crore each for Binod (Dabla) Brahma and Birgwshree football academies in Kokrajhar and Udalguri.

He also said that the council had started the Kanakeswar Narzary Sports Excellence Award for the achievers in national and international competitions to inspire young sports stars. Boro informed that the construction of the Bir Chilagang Basumatary football stadiums at a cost of Rs 5 crore each was going on in full swing at ten different places of BTC.

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