Hotoni Yeptho
Saksi NAP Sector, Tuensang
Tuensang district have recently concluded as host to 23rd Dr T Ao Trophy and was crown as champion to the only inter-district football tournament of Nagaland. The culture of sports spirit in the district shine through all throughout the event from the inception of the game at Loyem Memorial Astro Turf Ground from 19th September which have stretch over for two weeks as state chief minister Neiphiu Rio addressed and encouraged the packed filled ground to follow Dr T Ao footsteps and urged people to excel in the field of sports and pledged the government commitment to enhance the playground of the district and sports infrastructure across all districts of Nagaland. To successfully host this cup is not just a symbol of triumph as it was the first time this trophy was hosted in the eastern districts of Nagaland, it was an altogether a collective emotional experience of resilience since it came as a breath of fresh air after the district have grapple for months with the natural disaster rendering many people homeless after the landslides washed away multiple houses forcing many families to seek shelter from district disaster management authority and state government effort to provide a temporary shelter to the effected families. Along with the distress families, the whole of locality and citizens of the town were troubled over the possibility of the natural course and recurrence of disaster even as they hope for the better and safer days ahead.
In an impressive view as people thronged the packed ground to witness the match where talented players came from all over the districts to partake in the trophy which makes it altogether a memorable experience as the folks had ‘anticipated for the event for a long time for this tournament since they could not go to other district to watch the game’ remarked Nungsang Chang, president of Chang Sports Association. Doso C of Sao Chang College puts in ‘it feels good that the people of eastern districts and the rest of the other Nagas came together and built friendship and career through sports’. To play the game of football needs resilience, proper fitness and discipline in players and rigorous training to enhance the game experience. It must have been a trial of a physical stretch for the players as they travel long and tedious journey for fourteenth, thirteenth etc. Hours to reach the host district in an existing road condition after being on practice and trial session for many days back in their respective home districts. For some players however, it was only three to four days trial session before they packed for the final journey for the trophy while for others it was a weeklong practice. The delay in selection process of the game made both the coaches as well asplayers dissatisfied as contend by some districts. To play in any tournament it needed the minimum of months and practice session which many districts could not enjoy such experience. Invisible low performance for some districts ‘many have put their foot on the turf for the first time ‘commented Medo, match commissioner and chairman of referee board, and the new players from the turf have a difficulty adjusting with the ball control, speed and agility which was a different experience from overground practice. The host district Tuensang is a few fortunate districts to be provided with a turf ground for over a year now and have proved themselves that provided with proper and right platform and opportunity one can excel in the sports field. To present an equal opportunity so as to enable them excel in the sports would entail the government to provide equally good and basic sports facilities such as standard ground and stadium which can be accessible to all the players including physically challenged community to every districts so as to empower them to compete in an equal footing in competitive sports world. In the past as well as today regardless of the challenges and odds, there were several talented sportsman and woman who have emerged from the grassroot level and have represented the region, state and nation in the international and brought laurel to the state as in the case of recent Paralympic Games 2024 in Paris by our very own Hokato Hotozhe Sema. They will continue to inspire our younger generation in sports and to sports lovers in general. In the past however the lamentable aspect of many of these talented players who have once brought honour have been made to left out alone without any proper acknowledgement and recognition to their dedication in their sports field and were made to fade and abandoned on their own without necessary support after being in the limelight for some years. This action did not go well as it does not give any positive reinforcement to the upcoming young players who would want to pursue their career in the field of sports, as well as to the parents who could not mastered the courage to support their children to choose sports field other than studies and which they have a legitimate reason on their apprehension through the experience of their predecessors in murky shadow. Lemchiuof B.A 1st semester student of SCC who is struggling to cope with his studies and play football and currently representing Waza FC in the ongoing 32nd Loyem Memorial Trophy in Tuensang shared of this common concern of his parents who emphasise frequently to focus on studies and not on football game. Whenever I ask for the assistance to buy books, they immediately send me the amount but if I ask financial assistance to buy any sports kit, they are reluctant to send me the money. Necessary sport kits, treating injuries, fitness management is an expensive, but I’m grateful to the authority, my teachers both from high school, higher secondary and now college for taking trouble and allowing me to re-write the tests, assignment and exam and granting leave when I apply to play in the match’. Every players who are striving to make it have to go its fair share to overcome the odds, as Puto shared of his plan to go back to the village and help his parents in the field. There is no time to practice during the day as all my friends go to the field and come back late in the evening, he remark.
Apparently the challenges and role of a good coach, referee, team managers is equally vital to carry forward the sports excellence as they could play an important role to identify talent, and catch them young to groom and to coached them, to refine and equip them through their professional and trained experience in tune with the changing aspect and pattern of the game.
On successful completion of the trophy both players and officials were on compliment of the host district and its officials for their generosity and warm hospitality extended to them. Football Association of the District of Phek president Colo Mero have emphasised on how sharing, help and ‘collective support of the community could carry forward football game to higher level when coupled with talent and passion’ of the players. Kakhevi Assumi of Niuland district team have this finale message to the host district ‘Thank you Tuensang for being an exemplary host, for warmly cheering us throughout the game, even when the trophy gets over continue to support the players and let this sport spirit continue to guide the people’.‘To viewers, eastern people, thank you for believing in us and we hope that more opportunities will come to us ’voiced Shamba Sanson from the winning team player. It is hoped that sports lovers and their enthusiasm for the sport will rekindled as people witness the matches through the event and certainly many football lovers were been produced as a result of the trophy. This achievement of the tournament, support and cheers of the crowd not only inside the ground but also encouragement and contributions of all sections of the people of the district is a witness to the theme of the trophy ‘together we can soar’. The ongoing 32nd Loyem Memorial Trophy which kick off on 21st of October organise jointly by Chang Wedoshi Setshang and Chang Sports Association is the testament to the district and its people’s commitment to embrace the responsibility to carry forward the legacy of sportsmanship, help young people to realise their dream by providing them the right platform and exposure, to help young talent emerge, and its dedication to foster unity and harmony through sports. With the state government support to renew and revive the vibrant sports culture and with its timely intervention and impending resurgence of Nagaland League by Nagaland Football Association there is a hope for the upcoming younger players to look forward and think beyond football as a seasonal game and as seasonal player by taking it to the professional level as a choice career with right guidance. This is attainable only when both the players as well as the state government machinery is dedicated in its pursuit to promote the sports eminence in Nagaland. For the growth and prosperity of the people, considering football wherein it continue to garner a large fan base across the state in addition to natural talent and passion this can be use as a platform to combat an existing challenges which the state government is confronting such as upsetting and startling unemployment rate in recent years and also promote other positive cause through this podium for the improvement and betterment of the life of young people and its citizens in general.
