BTC chief Pramod Bodo requests AIFF for I-League spot for Bodoland FC

Published at :September 9, 2024 at 4:19 PM

Modified at :September 10, 2024 at 4:23 PM

Pramod Bodo stresses the importance of football in BTR.

Pramod Bodo, Chief Executive Member of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) of Bodoland Territorial Region Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), has requested the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to include Bodoland Football Club (Bodoland FC) in the next season of the I-League.

Bodoland FC was formed to participate in the 132nd Durand Cup, held in Kokrajhar, Assam, where BTC administration operates from. In their first season, the team defeated the reserve side of the Indian Super League(ISL) team Odisha FC by a margin of 2-1 in their final group match. However, they lost two games, against Rajasthan United by 0-1 and Army Red by 1-2.

In this Durand Cup, they faced a loss against NorthEast United FC by 2-0, but made a comeback in their next two matches, defeating the reserve side of Odisha FC and the BSF football team by 2-0 and 4-3, respectively.

Did you know that Bodoland FC is the first professional football club from BTR to play in the prestigious #DurandCup2024?Only 12 days remain for the start of the 133rd @thedurandcup in Kokrajhar, the City of Peace. Get your jerseys out and get ready to cheer for our home team! pic.twitter.com/wpDqVz8XAF
— Govt. of BTR (@GovtofBTR) July 18, 2024

All the games in which Bodoland FC played had an almost full house. In the first match against NEUFC, the stadium recorded 12,210 attendees, a complete full house.

BTR Chief requests AIFF to include Bodoland FC in I-League

Pramod Bodo had written to the AIFF, stating, “The people of BTR have a strong passion for sports, especially football, and our youth possess remarkable talent and potential. With this in mind, I am writing to request that the Bodoland Football Club (Bodoland FC) be given the opportunity to participate in the I-League.”

The official expressed in the letter that this would significantly enhance the exposure and development of football in the region, which in turn would help in the growth of football in India. He also assured that the Government of Bodoland Territorial Council is going to support Bodoland FC in all aspects for successful participation in the second tier of Indian professional football.

Kokrajhar’s football legacy: From insurgency to sporting success

Kokrajhar has always been a place where football is like food for its population. The region had produced talents like Halicharan Narzary, currently a Bengaluru FC player, who played for the national team, and Apurna Narzary, who led the Indian women’s U-20 team.

After years of insurgency, a new era of peace started in the region following the signing of the Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) involving factions of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the All-Bodo Students Union on January 27, 2020. The council was interested in participating in the Santosh Trophy but could not do so.

The BTC government initiated the Inter Sixth Schedule Councils Premier League (ISPL) football competition in 2022. In that competition, the eight councils of the Northeastern states of India participated. In the final, the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) team emerged victorious against the Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC) of Mizoram.

After this tournament, in 2022, the AIFF organized the Group III matches of the 76th Hero Senior Men’s National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy, held from December 28, 2022, to January 5, 2023.

Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh today inaugurated the132nd Durand Cup football tournament in Kokrajhar, Assam. He exuded confidence that it will encourage the youth to join the sport with renewed vigour. (1/2)Read for more: https://t.co/Qy3qRCFYXR @giridhararamane pic.twitter.com/mlWSuaGi66
— Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) August 5, 2023

Bodoland FC’s challenges en route to the I-League

This year, the Chief Minister of Manipur, N. Biren Singh, requested the AIFF to exempt TRAU FC and NEROCA FC from relegation in the I-League due to the ethnic conflict between the Kuki and Meitei groups in the state since May last year.

Despite this request, the AIFF, on July 2, 2024, confirmed the relegation of NEROCA FC and TRAU FC, football clubs from Manipur, who had finished at the bottom of the I-League with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Sporting Club Bengaluru, were crowned I-League 2 champions, and Dempo Sports Club, who ended second in “I-League 2”, Club was promoted to the I-League. The Bangalore-based outfit will participate in the I-League for the first time, while the Goan stalwarts will return to the I-League after 9 years.

Given this situation, it will be hard for the Bodoland FC team to make it into the I-League. However, the fans and concerned persons of the club remain hopeful for a positive outcome in the coming days.

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