Mizoram's Dinthar FC strengthen team for new season

Dinthar FC from Aizawl, last seasons Mizoram Football League champions, have named their 26 players squad for the new 2012/13 season. Only founded in 1994, the Club name 'Dinthar' literally mean 'revive' in Mizo and also a locality in West Aizawl is named Dinthar which is the Mecca of Mizo football.

The club will participate in the new Mizoram Premier League besides being the representatives of Mizoram in the new to be launched North-East Premier League. Thereafter they would hope to get a spot in the I-League Division 2s preliminary round.


DINTHAR FC - Aizawl

Goalkeepers
Lalnunenga (Saitual, Mizoram), Zothanmawia (Chandigarh Football Academy), Joseph-a (1st MAP FC, Mizoram)

Defence
B.Lalchhanchhuaha (Faria Strikers, Goa), C. Lalduhawma (Durtlang, Mizoram), Vincent Lalrindika, Ronald Zothanzama (Shillong Lajong FC), Ramnunsanga(Faria Strikers, Goa), Ramfangzauva (Vanchengpui, Mizoram), Lalramsanga (Lengpui, Mizoram), Ronald Lalzikpuia (Ramhlun South, Mizoram), Chhuanzika (Baktawng, Mizoram)

Midfielders
Lalrinkima/Kimkima (Dinthar Veng, Mizoram), K.C. Lalchhuanmawia (Simla Youngs FC), Lalmuansanga (West Phaileng, Mizoram), Malsawma (Luangmual FC, Mizoram), Vanlalmawia (Prayag United FC), Lalrempuia (Lengpui, Mizoram)

Forwards
Samuel Laltlanthanga (Langsning FC, Shillong), Zico Zoremsanga (Southern Samity), R. Laldanmawia (1st MAP Academy, Mizoram), Lalnunmawia (Shillong Lajong FC), Lalthlamuana (Shillong Lajong Juniors), M.C. Malsawmzuala (East Bengal Academy), Zosangliana (Armed Veng, Mizoram), Lalliansanga (Lengpui, Mizoram)

Officials
H.C. Zarzoliana (Coach), Lalnuntluanga (Manager)

North-East Premier League set for March 2012 launch

The ambitious North-East Premier League (NEPL) is set for a March 2012 launch. It is an AIFF initiative being pushed by the federations vice-president Ankur Dutta, who hails from the Northeast. The NEPL is an effort to promote football in the region with Calcutta-based Celebrity Management Group set to organise the league. The overall prize money would be Rs 10 Million (1 crore) with the clubs set to earn further potential revenues from TV rights and sponsorship sales.

The NEPL will feature the state champions from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. There had been an earlier proposal to include the champions of Sikkim as the eight team, but that idea has been dropped due to logistical reasons. Now a pre-tournament will be held amongst the state league runners-up of the seven states to determine the eighth team.

As per plans the eight participating teams will be split into two groups of four teams each with all playing each other home-and-away in the group stage. From there the top two teams will qualify for the semifinals with the winners moving on into the finals.

As per the NEPL rules only commercial entity football clubs will be allowed to participate meaning Public Sector Undertaking clubs, which are common in the Northeast will not be allowed to participate; while winning the league will open opportunities in the I-League Division 2.

The NEPL is set to be played over a nine week period from March 2012 onwards with travel and fatigue a potential problem which the organisers would have to look into.

North-East Premier League on the cards

To further promote club football across the Northeastern states the All India Football Federation is working on plans with the regions state football associations to launch the North-East Premier League. Kolkata-based Celebrity Management Group is set to partner the AIFF to organise and raise sponsorship for the league.

The NE Premier League is set to feature the top teams from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura along with a team from Sikkim. It will be an eight team league. The format has not been finalised yet, but the AIFF is pushing for a start during the ongoing 2011/12 season.

It has been decided that a clubs participating squad could include upto three foreigners, but it would be mandatory to have no less than six local players and the same number of Under-21 players. The rest of the team could be from anywhere in India with no Northeast restrictions.

From this set of players the three foreigners, two local players and one Under-21 would have to be in the starting eleven, while also having such a combination amongst the playing eleven throughout the game.

The aim of the league is to not only promote club football in the North-East, but also talent from the region and bridge the gap with the rest of the country.