Nagaland United Sports Club will be facing Real Kashmir in their maiden national league match (Credit: Nagaland United Sports Club/X)
\n\nWhen Nagaland United Sports Club plays Real Kashmir in their maiden national league game at Srinagar's TRC Stadium on October 30, they will carry on the legacy of the nation's first national team captain, Talimeren Ao, into the Indian Football League. This will end the state's 78-year wait for a club at that level. Nagaland United, which was founded in Chumoukedima in 2024, has chosen an unusual path to the national league. On September 9, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) accepted a goodwill deal that secured Aizawl FC's spot, with the Mizoram club offering technical and development help.
\n\nThe club's entrance into the IFL is both a historic accomplishment and a chance to provide a pathway for local talent for a state whose footballing heritage is entwined with Ao, who captained independent India at the 1948 Olympics. On January 28, 2025, which would have been Ao's 107th birthday, Nagaland United played their first competitive game and lost 2-3 against Barak FC on the day Chumoukedima's new stadium opened.
\n\nAfter giving up nine goals in 12 games, they finished second…
Original source: https://www.timesnownews.com/sports
