In a unique collaboration promoting sports as a medium for sustainable conservation, Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) partnered with Africa’s Bola Bola Sports for All Wildlife Forever to organize a conservation-focused football tournament at Golia Football Ground in Assam on February 11 and 12, 2026. The tournament included eight men’s teams, four women’s teams, and two under-17 teams, fostering enthusiasm and sportsmanship among local youth. Team Biswanath Town Club won the men’s title, while Team Uddipta Chowra, Bedeti claimed the women’s championship. Team Golia F.C. and Team Sakhomata Tea Estate were the runners-up in their respective categories, with Team JNV Sonitpur emerging as under-17 champions. Bola Bola Sports aims to engage communities through football, providing coaching clinics and promoting biodiversity protection. The tournament was supported by multiple local organizations and featured international coaches Steffan Perkins and Alberto Marco Lozano, who commenced training and emphasized the importance of sports in conservation efforts. Local officials praised the initiative as an innovative approach to unite diverse communities in protecting Kaziranga’s wildlife and habitat, backed by various support groups including WWF-India and Aaranyak.
Sports for Sustainability: Kaziranga Partners African Initiative to Boost Conservation
