SFS Higher Secondary School, Medziphema, has left for Bengaluru to compete in the U-15 boys’ category of the 64th Subroto Cup International Football Tournament 2025. The school, carrying Nagaland’s hope for the second year in a row, earned the opportunity after winning the state-level Pre-Subroto cum Juniors Tournament consecutively in 2024 and 2025.
The team is being guided by manager Kenongoto, District Sports Officer of Longleng, and coach Menovilie, both of whom will lead the squad in Bengaluru. SFS Higher Secondary School is among the few institutions in Nagaland that runs its own football academy, making it a driving force in grassroots sports development.
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The SFS Football Academy is managed by licensed coaches accredited by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The academy is formally registered under the Chumoukedima District Football Association, AFCAI, and also participates in the AIFF Blue Cubs programme. This structured approach highlights the school’s focus on nurturing players from a young age.
The academy has received national recognition as well. During the first AFC-AIFF Grassroots Day (2023/2024), SFS was declared the Best School, becoming the first institution in Nagaland to achieve this honour.
Ciu Zashümo, who holds an AFC-C Licence and coaches at the academy, expressed gratitude to the Department of Youth Resources and Sports and the Nagaland Football Association for their role in supporting young talent. He pointed out that while the academy is still at an early stage, with proper age-group development the state could emerge strongly in national-level competitions in the coming years.
Emphasising the importance of strong foundations, Zashümo explained that confident players are products of consistent early training. He also acknowledged the difficulty of competing with players from bigger academies, as they are often physically stronger and more experienced.
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However, he believes exposure to tournaments such as the Subroto Cup provides invaluable learning. Competing on this stage at an early age allows players to discover areas they need to improve, while also building confidence for the future.
The 64th Subroto Cup began in New Delhi on 19 August 2025, featuring 106 teams across three categories—junior boys (U-17), junior girls (U-17), and sub-junior boys (U-15). This year’s edition also includes four international schools from Sri Lanka and Nepal, further expanding the competition’s reach.
