“Let football be one of the key tools for combating drug addiction — Chief Minister.”

Football is one of the Bengali community’s most beloved sports. Using this very sport to free the youth from drug addiction, Chief Minister Professor Dr. Manik Saha made an appeal.

On Tuesday, the Tripura Football Association organized a felicitation ceremony at a private hotel in the state for 80 new lifetime members. Chief Minister Professor Dr. Manik Saha attended the event as the chief guest. Sports Minister Tinku Roy was present as the special guest. Also present were Tripura Football Association President Pranab Sarkar, Secretary Amit Choudhury, and others.

At the event, the 80 new lifetime members were honored. Among them were Mayor and MLA Deepak Majumdar, Justice Arindam Lodh, State Police IG Krishnendu Bhagabat, prominent lawyer Sandeep Datta Bhowmik, and others.

In his speech, the Chief Minister said that scoring goals should remain the primary objective of footballers. Welcoming the new lifetime members, he noted that sometimes difficult tasks cannot be accomplished by one or two individuals alone, but when many minds come together, football can progress much further.

He emphasized that sponsors should be brought into football not by pressure, but by persuasion. He advised TFA officials to bring innovative ideas and move forward collectively.

The Chief Minister said that earlier, the best player was considered to be the one who could injure an opponent on the field. This mentality existed in politics too. But now techniques have changed significantly. He remarked that football teaches how strategic changes should be made.

He added that Tripura holds a significant place in various sports events in the country. Football must also be advanced further. The more the youth immerse themselves in football, the more they will be able to break free from drug addiction, he said.

TFA President Pranab Sarkar also spoke at the event. Sports Minister Tinku Roy interacted with the newly inducted lifetime members.