Chowkham has always had football in its soul. Now, it finally has the stadium to prove it.
Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein inaugurated the newly constructed mini football stadium at Chowkham in Namsai district on Tuesday, July 29, marking what many locals called a long-overdue moment for a town that has quietly produced some of the finest footballers this state has ever seen. The facility, funded by the North Eastern Council (NEC) and built by the Rural Works Department (RWD), Namsai, comes equipped with a modern artificial turf field and quality spectator infrastructure — the kind of facility that young players in the region have only dreamed of training on.
Honoring the Legends Who Came Before
Before cutting the ribbon, Mein paused to do something important — remember. He paid heartfelt tribute to late Chowjit Gohain Mein, who once captained both the Town Club and the Assam Football Team and represented Assam in the All India football trials. He also honored late Indrajit Namchoom, widely recognized as the first international football player from Arunachal Pradesh. These weren’t just names on a list. They were men who built a footballing identity for this region decades before anyone was paying attention, inspiring generations of young players from villages that barely had a proper pitch to practice on.
Big Plans on the Horizon
The DCM didn’t stop at inauguration speeches. He laid out a clear vision — a dedicated football training centre to be established in the region, one that would offer professional coaching, accommodation, and support facilities for talented young players across the districts. The proposal, he said, has already been shared with district sports authorities and the Department of Sports & Youth Affairs. He also gave the green light for the construction of a FIFA-standard hybrid turf football stadium in Wakro — a move that signals the government isn’t thinking small.
A Region Ready to Host Big Matches
With stadiums coming up in Namsai, Wakro, and Tezu, the Lower Lohit and Namsai belt is quietly positioning itself as a credible hub for state and national-level football tournaments. That’s not a minor thing. Hosting big tournaments means visibility, revenue, and most importantly — opportunity for local players who might otherwise never get seen. Mein made it clear that investment in sports infrastructure is, at its core, investment in youth. Hard to argue with that.
A Full House to Witness History
The inauguration drew an enthusiastic crowd, with Namsai MLA Chau Zingnu Namchoom, Zilla Parishad Chairpersons, Sports Director Tadar Apa, Namsai DC CR Khampa, Sports Secretary Abu Tayeng, and scores of local sportspersons and community members in attendance. The energy in the room felt like a town that had been waiting for this moment for a very long time.
Chowkham’s footballing story didn’t begin today. But thanks to this stadium, the next chapter might just be its greatest one.
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