'Support for football is evident across Northeast': Mandar Tamhane, CEO of NEUFC

NorthEast United FC is set to open their 11th ISL campaign on 16th September against newly promoted Mohammedans.

The club’s ambitious efforts in scouting and youth development have expanded across most of the region, according to Mandar Tamhane, CEO of NorthEast United Football Club (NEUFC).

Speaking at the NEUFC Media Day, Tamhane was joined by the head coach Juan Pedro Benali who shared insights into the mood within the team ahead of the upcoming ISL season.

Benali expressed that the atmosphere is positive in the dressing room especially coming fresh off of the Durand Cup win with the management putting in a lot of effort to help the team stay calm and composed.

“The mood in the dressing room is the same as it was last year. We are a family on our own. I am talking not just about the players, but also the people in the office, the ground staff, and everyone involved, they put a lot of effort into helping us feel at home.”

Benali particularly credited Mandar Tamhane and John Abraham for helping the dressing room stay relaxed and collected.

"We have Mandar Tamhane and John Abraham looking after the smallest as well as the biggest of the necessities of the team. That is why the dressing room is calm. We know we have a big responsibility on our shoulders. I am starting this ISL season with a very fresh mind," he said.

Mandar Tamhane who joined the team last season after a decade-long tenure with Bengaluru FC outlined the development of football in the Northeast and the immense support from the eight states in contributing to that development.

NEUFC- A club that represents a region

"I think Nagaland and Tripura are the only states we haven’t entered in terms of our scouting and youth development plans,” noted Tamhane.

“The work with individual states depends on how we can form an understanding with each one. Interacting with different stakeholders, the response has been overwhelmingly supportive in terms of what we need as a football club.”

This support is evident across the Northeast, claims Tamhane, with Meghalaya and Assam taking extra steps to foster young footballing talent.

“Meghalaya’s government has signed a partnership with NEUFC to establish a residential academy. The Assam government has been equally collaborative, helping us host matches, and we’re also working in several districts of Assam,” Tamhane shared.

He further mentioned that in Arunachal Pradesh, the club is setting up another academy, expanding its presence in the region, with AIFF favoring the state for high-altitude training.

“Arunachal Pradesh is the other state we’re currently working with to set up an academy. The Secretary of the Arunachal Pradesh Football Association, Mr. Kipa Ajay, who is also the treasurer of AIFF, has been very supportive. AIFF has also chosen Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh as a high-altitude training center for national football teams.”

Tamhane praised his team, emphasizing that NEUFC is not just focused on building academies but has also involved in other developmental activities like sending its reserve team to Mizoram for the Independence Day Cup, the oldest active cup competition under the Mizoram Football Association.

“We sent our reserve team to play in the Independence Day Cup in Mizoram. We are ensuring that our reserve teams get much-needed match practice,” the CEO added.

This regional integration is creating a clear pathway for youth development across the Northeast says Tamhane and expressed interest in hosting games in Manipur.

"When the national team played in Manipur, the response in the stadium was fantastic, and as a club, we would love to play one or two games there as well. Every state in the Northeast is helping us with our plans for youth development. Still, there are a lot of things that can be done because we feel that if we create a pathway for players from the region, they’ll not only stay in the region but also play for clubs in the ecosystem, not just NorthEast United,” he explained.

“Youth development and grassroots football is a process that can’t happen in months but takes years,” believes Tamhane that the club’s vision is not confined to short-term goals and would want to continue for longevity..

“John Abraham is as passionate as we are, and we also want to contribute to the development of football in the Northeast, which will ultimately benefit the entire region," concluded Tamhane.