Guwahati: Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) joined hands with Bola Bola Sports for All Wildlife Forever to organise a conservation-focused football tournament and coaching programme from February 6 to 22 in Assam.
The main tournament was held on February 11 and 12 at Golia Football Ground under the Biswanath Wildlife Division. The initiative aimed to engage youth from fringe villages around Kaziranga through structured football activities while promoting wildlife conservation.
Bola Bola Sports for All Wildlife Forever is a sports-focused initiative that leverages football to drive community engagement, youth development, and wildlife conservation.
The organisation has previously conducted similar programmes in protected areas, including Zambia’s Kafue National Park in 2024. Through coaching clinics, referee training and tournaments, the group works with park authorities, NGOs and local communities to combine sports development with environmental awareness.
The programme in Kaziranga received support from the Sports and Youth Welfare Department, Biswanath Sports Association, Biswanath Football Association and the Golia Village Development Committee.
International coaches Steffan Perkins (England) and Alberto Marco Lozano (Spain) led the training sessions, which began on February 7 and 8 at Agoratoli Football Ground under the Eastern Assam Wildlife Division. Coaching sessions later continued in the Biswanath Wildlife Division from February 10 to 16, followed by friendly matches scheduled until February 22.
The two-day tournament featured eight men’s teams, four women’s teams and two Under-17 teams. Youth from across Biswanath district participated enthusiastically, creating a vibrant atmosphere of sportsmanship and teamwork.
The winners were:
- Men’s Champion: Biswanath Town Club
- Women’s Champion: Uddipta Chowra, Bedeti
- Under-17 Champion: JNV Sonitpur
- Men’s Runners-Up: Golia FC
- Women’s Runners-Up: Sakhomata Tea Estate
- Under-17 Runners-Up: Golia Junior FC
Senior players and leading coaches were felicitated during the event.
Coach Steffan Perkins appreciated the warm welcome and enthusiastic participation, expressing optimism about continuing the football-conservation initiative. Alberto Marco Lozano praised the hospitality, professional organisation by the Kaziranga team and the high level of discipline shown by participants.
Divisional Forest Officer of Biswanath Wildlife Division, Ritu Paban Borah, described the initiative as an innovative blend of sports and conservation and called for its continued expansion.
Forest Range Officer Nayan Jyoti Gogoi of Biswanath Ghat highlighted how football can unite people across language, religion, gender and age in a shared commitment to protecting Kaziranga’s wildlife and habitat.
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The event was attended by forest officials and local residents from across the Biswanath region.
The program, supported by Chuk Chuk, WWF-India, Aaranyak, NextGen Coaching, and Pathkind Labs Biswanath, echoed Bola Bola Sports’ initiative for wildlife & conservation. This collaboration underscores sports as a bridge to sustainable conservation in Kaziranga.
