Football Tournaments in North East India

 

 

The North East is a region known for its passion for football and hosts various tournaments throughout the year, showcasing the talent and dedication of the players. These tournaments play a crucial role in promoting football development, fostering community engagement, and identifying emerging talent.

 

This tournament provides a platform for local talent to shine and promotes football interest in North East people.

 

There are state wise tournaments in North East India are discussed below:

The Assam State Premier League (ASPL) is the state-level football league in the Indian state of Assam. It is the highest state-level football league in Assam, organized by the Assam Football Association, currently contested by 8 clubs.

 

 

The Assam State Premier League inaugural edition of the league started in 2008 with Assam Rifles winning its first title. After some years in 2015, the league was discontinued. But after 7 years in 2023, it was revived by the Assam Football Association.

The Manipur State League is the highest state-level football league in Manipur, India. It has been organized since 2006 by the All Manipur Football Association under the Vision India program with guidance from the AFC and the AIFF.

 

The league is a 17-team affair that is usually played on a home-and-away format over a period of several months. NISA from Thangmeiband has won MSL four times, and Tiddim Road Athletic Union has won two times.

The Mizoram Premier League is also known as LZ Juice. Mizoram Premier League for sponsorship ties, which is the highest state-level football league in Mizoram, India. On a national scale, it is the 5th tier of the Indian football league system. The competition is conducted by the Mizoram Football Association, the official football body of Mizoram, with Tetea Hmar as its secretary and key promoter. The league started on 24 October 2012 for the first time.

The Meghalaya State League is the top state-level football league in the Indian state of Meghalaya. It is managed by the Meghalaya Football Association (MFA). Rangdajied United are the current champions by virtue of winning the third edition.

 

The first edition of the Meghalaya State League was held in 2017, with the competition involving participation for the top clubs of the 21 football leagues that operate in 11 districts of Meghalaya.

The Nagaland Premier League is the top state-level football league in the Indian state of Nagaland. It is managed by the Nagaland Football Association (NFA).

 

It featured the best 10 teams of Nagaland competing for the trophy. Each club plays the other twice (home and away).

 

At the end of each season, the champion club would be nominated for the I-League 2nd Division. Since the league is currently inactive, some clubs find solutions in joining events of the nearby Manipur or Mizoram Football Association.

The Sikkim Premier Division League is also known as Probo Sikkim Premier Division League for sponsorship reasons, which is the highest state-level football league in Sikkim, India, organized by the Sikkim Football Association. United Sikkim FC is the most successful club with three league titles.

 

The current top-tier league in Sikkim, also known as the Sikkim A Division League, was started by the Sikkim Football Association in 2011 with 8 teams. The league was suspended in 2019, following a dispute between the Football Players Association of Sikkim (FCAS) and the SFA. The state league eventually resumed in 2023. Matches for the 2023 season were broadcast on Pavilion TV.

The Tripura Football Association is one of the 36 Indian state football associations that are affiliated with the All India Football Federation. The Tripura FA administers state-tier football in the state of Tripura. It is based in Agartala, and the association’s president is Ratan Saha. The association sends state teams for the Santosh Trophy and Senior Women’s National Football Championship.

 

It was s founded in the year 1956 and affiliated with the All India Football Federation (AIFF). It’s headquarter in Agartala, and the president is Ratan Saha. The secretary of the Tripura Football Association is Amit Chaudhary, and the abbreviation is TFA.

The Bodousa Cup is an invitational football tournament in India, held across multiple venues in Assam and organized by the Bodousa Sports Club of Tinsukia annually under the supervision of the Assam Football Association. The tournament was incorporated in 2009 and is named after Moran Bodousa, a historical figure in upper Assam.

 

The Bodousa Cup was organized by the Bodousa Sports Club and it was founded in 2009. The total number of teams in the Bodousa Cup is 20. The 13th edition of the Bodousa Cup football tournament was held from December 4, 2021.

The Shillong Premier League (currently known as Officer’s Choice Blue Shillong Premier League for sponsorship reasons) is the second-level state football league in the Indian state of Meghalaya, below the Meghalaya State League, organized by the Shillong Sports Association (SSA), which is affiliated to the Meghalaya Football Association (MFA). It was started with 8 teams in 2010. Mawlai SC are the current champions.

 

It was founded in 2010, and the total number of teams is eight. The organizing body of the Shillong Premier League is  the Shillong Sports Association (SSA).

North East India tournaments are the ones that play a vital role in promoting football interest among the people.  

 

One of the prominent tournaments is ”Santosh Trophy”, which is a prestigious football competition in India. It involves teams from different states, including those from the North East. The north east also has its own local tournaments like the “Independence Day Cup” and “Bordoloi Trophy,” which are popular among football enthusiasts in the region.