India PM Narendra Modi praises Bodoland's football development

Halicharan Narzary, Durga Boro are some of the names who have put Bodoland on the map.

The Indian Football fraternity keeps growing with the creation of more football clubs around the country, as there is a push for more diversity and a greater outreach of the beautiful game all over. One interesting region that is really making a play to become a budding hub for football in India is Bodoland, which is situated in Assam.

Bodoland FC was created in 2022 with an eye for growing the popularity of football in the region. The club also participated in the 2023 Durand Cup and are currently competing in the local Assam football tournaments.

As the club aims to help bring more prosperity to the football scene in Assam and the region in particular, the region’s love for football has even earned praise from the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi himself!

Indeed, the Prime Minister spoke about the Bodoland football scene in a recent episode of ‘Mann ki Baat’, speaking about how it played a role in bringing about peace in the area too. He had praised for the authorities for creating more tournaments like the CEM Cup, which gives chances to thousands of teams.

What did PM Narendra Modi say about football in Bodoland?

The Prime Minister praised players like Hyderabad FC man Halicharan Narzary and India Women’s team forward Apurna Narzary for coming through their football scene and act as beacons of inspiration for those in the region.

In a detailed speech about the growing love for the beautiful game in Bodoland, Narendra Modi stated: “The energy in the youth and their confidence is most evident on the football field. The Bodoland CEM cup is being organised in the Bodoland territorial area, it is not just a tournament, it has become a celebration of unity and hope.

“Over 3,700 teams, nearly 70,000 players and a large number of girls participating. These numbers tell the story of the transformation in Bodoland. It is now shining brighter on the sports map of the country. Friends, there was a time when conflicts were Bodoland’s identity, opportunities were limited for the youth here, but today their eyes are filled with new dreams and their hearts are filled with courage to become self-reliant. Football players from Bodoland are now earning recognition at higher levels.

“Halicharan Narzary, Durga Boro, Apurna Narzary and Manabir Basumatary, these are not just names of football players. They represent a new generation that has taken Bodoland from the ground to the national stage! Many of them trained with limited resources, and some carved their paths through difficult circumstances. Today, countless children in the country begin their dreams by taking inspiration from them.”

It’s a matter of great pride for the organisers of the Bodoland CEM Cup and management in the football scene that the Indian Prime Minister praised their efforts on such a great scale on a national programme. Narendra Modi’s high praise for Bodoland footballers can also act as inspiration for more kids in the region to look at football towards a serious career path and to add more quality to the Indian football scene.

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