In a unique collaboration underscoring sports as a bridge to sustainable conservation, Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) in collaboration with Africa’s Bola Bola Sports for All Wildlife Forever, organized a “conservation-focused” football tournament at Golia Football Ground in Biswanath Wildlife Division of Assam. on February 11 and 12, 2026. The tournament featured eight men’s teams, four women’s teams, and two under-17 teams enthusiastically. Champions were celebrated amid a showcase of teamwork and sportsmanship: Team Biswanath Town Club emerged as the Men’s Winner while Team Uddipta Chowra, Bedeti bagged the women’s title. The Men’s Runners-Up title went to Team Golia F.C. while the Women’s Runners-Up title was bagged by Team Sakhomata Tea Estate Team JNV Sonitpur were crown the under-17 champions while Team Golia Junior FC bagged the runners-up title in the category. The event engaged local youth in structured football among Kaziranga’s fringe communities. Bola Bola Sports for All Wildlife Forever is a sports-focused initiative that leverages football to drive community engagement, youth development, and wildlife conservation.
Keeping Kaziranga in vision, their work centers on organizing coaching clinics, referee training, and tournaments in protected areas like their prior effort in Zambia’s Kafue National Park in 2024; to unite fringe communities around sports while promoting biodiversity protection and sustainable livelihoods.
Bola Bola Sports collaborates with parks, NGOs and local groups to foster enthusiasm among boys and girls, blending athletic skill-building with environmental awareness for long-term impact. The Assam Sports and Youth Welfare Department, Biswanath Sports Association, Biswanath Football Association, and Golia Village Development Committee supported the tournament.
International coaches Steffan Perkins from England and Alberto Marco Lozano from Spain kickstarted the training since February 7 at Agoratoli Football Ground, Eastern Assam Wildlife Division, KNPTR which followed by sessions in Biswanath Wildlife Division. Speaking on the occasion, Perkins praised the enthusiasm, and collaborative spirit that launched the football-conservation project on a strong note, expressing excitement for future efforts. Lozano highlighted the extraordinary hospitality, professional organisation by the Kaziranga team, high energy from sponsors and participants besides top-tier disciplined play and eagerness to continue.
Divisional Forest Officer, Biswanath Wildlife Division, Ritu Paban Borah noted the innovative blend of sports and conservation, calling for its sustained expansion in the park. Forest Range Officer, Nayan Jyoti Gogoi Biswanath Ghat emphasised how football unites people across language, religion, gender, age and background toward a shared goal of protecting Kaziranga’s wildlife and habitat. The programme was also supported by Chuk Chuk, WWF-India, Aaranyak, NextGen Coaching, and Pathkind Labs Biswanath.
