Mhasimhalie Mathew Yhome with others during Umberto Marocchino Tournament in Kohima on September 11.
Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 11
The Christ King Higher Secondary School, Kohima, today organised its two-day Umberto Marocchino Memorial Tournament, celebrating sportsmanship, unity, and the legacy of a pioneering missionary of Nagaland’s Catholic community.
This sporting event is held in honour of Fr Umberto Marocchino, remembered as one of the first Catholic missionaries in Kohima.
Gracing the event as the special guest, Kohima District Football Association (KDFA) president Mhasimhalie Mathew Yhome, urged the students to embrace discipline, teamwork and perseverance.
Yhome described the tournament as an opportunity for students to “run, jump, play and have fun,” stressing that sports not only build physical strength but also teach discipline, teamwork and fairness.
Highlighting the school’s practice of holding two annual sporting events, Yhome said it was a privilege for the children and reminded them that the memorial tournament serves as an important platform to promote sportsmanship and healthy competition.
He urged them to maintain discipline both on and off the field, to respect parents, elders, teachers and school staff, and to recognise that each child is gifted differently by God.
“The challenge is to identify your talent and master it, whether in sport, music or academics,” he said, adding that sports should not be treated merely as a hobby but pursued with sincerity and dedication.
He also encouraged students to put God first in all their efforts, quoting the biblical teaching that all things can be achieved through Christ.
Fr C M Joseph, Rector and Parish Priest of Christ the King Church, recalled how the Italian priest baptised the first Catholics in Nagaland and laid the foundations of the Church’s presence in the state.
“This tournament is not only about sport, but also about remembering a man whose missionary zeal bore fruit in Kohima and whose legacy continues to inspire,” Fr Joseph said
The memorial tournament featured football, volleyball, basketball, badminton, tug-of-war, tunnel ball, and even a mathematics quiz, engaging students across disciplines.
The inaugural ceremony was chaired by T. Zuchobeni Ezung while vote of thanks was proposed by Thejalhoukhonuo.
