Dimapur [Nagaland], January 28 (HornbillTV): Baichung Bhutia and Renedy Singh , former India football captains become advisors to Western Sumi sports association. 

1. As per the media cell of WSSA , press release Issued by Aghato Awomi.The WSSA sports association week long sports event which commenced on 24 to 29 jan 2022 , had a educational visit to Atoqa tea factory, Nikhekhu on 27 th Jan , which was part of the various educative activities being planned for the teams by the association .

2.  The participating team comprising of 11 areas under western Sumi Region comprising of 179 villages , the visit to complex , was hosted and organised by Ato area sports association and Nikhekhu village council in collaboration with Atoqa tea factory management.

3.   In the welcome address Mr Tokato Yepthomi incharge of ground operations , thanked WSSA president Mr Vikuto Zhimo , officials and teams for the educational tour in the tea production unit and stressed that for growth of any society , being educated and increased awareness, networking , acceptance and learning from each other with humility was the key ingredients of growth .

4.   Mr Simon Philips jyrwah, the commercial manager of the factory with past experience in Mac Leod Russel tea company , Assam , introduced various stages of tea making process , which needed high level of professional skills and application, he stressed that the factory was short of fresh tea leafs and encouraged entrepreneurs to take up tea plantations, as the factory was a assured market of the raw materials , presently 600 acres of plantation covering 11 villages with 160 small tea growers are carrying out plantations in the tea belt , which was still not adequate to feed the 5 lakh CTC made tea capacity liscence issued by tea board of India , to Atoqa tea factory. He said that , the main focus of the factory management was self sustainable economy in the region and improve quality of life of the underprivileged .

5.   Further , WSSA officials under leadership of President  Mr Vikuto zhimo interacted with Baichung Bhutia , Indian football legend , Padmashree and Arjuna awardee , who is also the brand ambassador of Northeast brews , Nagaland premium tea brand, packaged in the factory and Renedy Singh , coach of east Bengal team and formal Indian football captain .

6.   As requested by WSSA , commited to grass root development of sports especially football in western sumis areas and Nagas in general . Baichung Bhutia and Renedy Singh agreed to become Advisor’s to the association and advised the officials to focus on under 14 category team of WSSA to move up the ladder to reach National and International level , further both assured support to identified talents for trials in Indian football clubs .

7.   Baichung further agreed to conduct and train basic short programed coaches under WSSA , to guide players in cluster targeted villages, preferably players under WSSA with some past experience.

He further encouraged the WSSA officials that his club Sikkim united , will play with WSSA 11 , football team very soon , to encourage and motivate the grassroot Naga players under Niuland , Dimapur and Chumukedima District .

Atoqa tea factory management as part of their corporate social responsibility would be facilitating the events and encouraging sports especially to talented children in the region .Dimapur