Kaziranga: A warm February morning of 2026. Amid the lush greenery of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR), a unique wave of football enthusiasm has swept through the region (Football for Wildlife Conservation). As part of a special programme scheduled from 6 February to 22 February, the Kaziranga authorities, in collaboration with Africa’s “Bola Bola Sports for All Wildlife Forever,” organized an exciting football tournament on 11 and 12 February at the Golia football ground under the Biswanath Wildlife Division.
This initiative brought together young people from the fringe areas of Kaziranga and delivered a new message of wildlife conservation through sports.
An Innovative Blend of Sports and Conservation
Bola Bola Sports is a sports-centered initiative that uses football as a medium to promote community engagement, youth development, and wildlife conservation. After achieving notable success in 2024 at Kafue National Park in Zambia, the organisation has now turned its focus to Kaziranga.
The objective is to enhance sporting talent among local boys and girls through training clinics, referee training sessions, and tournaments, while also inspiring them to take interest in biodiversity protection and sustainable livelihoods.
The journey began on 7 and 8 February at the Agoratoli football ground under the Eastern Assam Wildlife Division (EAWL) in Kaziranga. The training camp was inaugurated by international coaches Steffan Perkins from England and Alberto Marco Lozano from Spain. Training sessions then continued in the Biswanath Wildlife Division from 10 February to 16 February. The programme aims to conclude with friendly matches in the Eastern Assam Wildlife Division by 22 February.
Celebration of Victory on the Field: Tournament Results
The tournament held on 11 and 12 February saw participation from eight men’s teams, four women’s teams, and two Under-17 (U-17) teams, creating a vibrant sporting atmosphere. After intense competition, the winners and runners-up were as follows:
- Men’s Category: Winner – Biswanath Town Club; Runner-up – Golia FC.
- Women’s Category: Winner – Uddipta Chowra (Bedeti); Runner-up – Shakhomata Tea Garden.
- Under-17 Category: Winner – JNV Sonitpur; Runner-up – Golia Junior FC.
At the closing ceremony, senior players and leading football coaches were specially felicitated. International coach Steffan Perkins praised the warm hospitality and cooperation of the people of Kaziranga. Meanwhile, Alberto Marco Lozano expressed admiration for the professional management by the park authorities and the discipline of the players.
Football for Unity
Biswanath Wildlife Division DFO Ritu Paban Bora described the fusion of sports and conservation as an exceptional and innovative initiative. Forest Range Officer of Biswanath Ghat, Nayan Jyoti Gogoi, emphasized that football is a universal language that can transcend divisions of religion, gender, language, and age, uniting people to protect Kaziranga’s wildlife and habitats.
The programme received continuous support from the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, Biswanath Sports Association, Biswanath Football Association, and Golia Village Development Committee. It was also strongly backed by partner organisations such as Chuk Chuk, WWF-India, Aaranyak, NextGen Coaching, and Pathkind Labs Biswanath.
This football movement launched for the protection of Kaziranga has demonstrated that the dream of sustainable conservation through sports is indeed achievable.
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