North East Football Development Council (NEFDC) in a meeting on Saturday at Guwahati has decided to name any of the age-group national football championships after legendary North-East footballer, the first captain of the senior national football team after independence, the late Talimeron Ao. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has verbally approved NEFDC’s decision. 

The ‘unsung hero’ from Nagaland was the captain of the Indian team squad against France in the 1948 London Olympics. 

The Federation has also been in the process of making a documented history on T. Ao who also donned Mohun Bagan shirts in 1943 and won several laurels including two IFA Shields, and three Calcutta Leagues for the team. 

When asked about their discussion in Saturday’s meeting, senior vice-president of NEFDC, Menla Ethenpa said, "We wanted Ao to get some recognition across the country’s football fraternity. We are Thankful to the AIFF president that he agreed to our initiative. Now the AIFF is building documented history on T.Ao and according to plans any of the age-group national football championships to be held next season will be named after T.Ao.” 

In a bid to bring out more potential youth footballers, The NEFDC also decided in the meeting to introduce an under-21 football league across the North-East, inviting eight states.