Advisor Zale Neikha being acknowledged as guest at the 57th annual games and sports meet of Kezoma Village Youth Organization at Kezoma Local Ground on January 4. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express news
Kohima | January 4
The Nagaland Advisor for Youth Resources and Sports, Er Zale Neikha today said, the need of the hour, was committed and disciplined sportspersons who can reflect and put up the best performance at individual level or with one’s team so that it does not prove futile for the state government’s efforts.
He called to identify sports discipline at which our people have the physical and technical agility to excel in the larger arenas. He observed that in the context of national and international level, sports was among the highest paid profession.
He was speaking as guest at the 57th annual games and sports meet of the Kezoma Village Youth Organization at Kezoma Local Ground on January 4.
The Advisor mentioned that in wrestling, the Naga style is a prominent game among the Tenyimi Nagas; but it remained confined to three Naga tribes. ‘However, belt wrestling, similar to Naga style was also played by 61 countries including us,’ he stated.
While it has a prospective scope for the game, he added that during the recently concluded World Olympic Games, Japan had appealed to include the discipline in the competition.
‘Our people had keen interest for the game of football which is being well displayed in the current Santosh Trophy where the Nagaland team, so far was performing well,’ he observed.
While asserting that Naga youths today are doing well in sports, he pointed out that from garnering 40 medals in the first NE Olympic Games and doubled the medal tally to 79 in the second Olympic Games held last year.
Neikha also informed that the state government will bet for hosting games of prestigious stature in the coming days. He categorized that youths need to identify talents which may be in different disciplines. Niekha mentioned that in the past, our forefather played games (traditional) mostly for recreational purpose; however he asserted the need to preserve these games by mastering the techniques, processes and art so it is widely made familiar and known for posterity.
Stating that the establishment of Kezoma Urban station has fulfilled a long desired aspiration of the people, he called to make it a full-fledged town of the Southern Angami Region. In this regard, he called the people to extend cooperation and support to the government to augment development for the welfare of the people.
Earlier, the welcome address was delivered by Videho Kisotso, President, KVYO and Medongol Thami, Pastor Kezoma Baptist Church pronounced the invocation. The programme was led by Eyosa Thuphre and Visapa Yongo led the oath taking.
The two-day sports meet was opened with traditional games Ludo for men and Thulo for women. The two games are the most common indigenous games of Southern Angami villages in general and Kezoma in particular. Luda is solely played by the men folk of the village for entertainment, to develop a sense of brotherhood and also to develop strong arms with a material called Olu, extracted from the plant Olu Pii, scientifically known as Panicum Virgatum (Switchgrass), around 180 cm in length and approximately 1 cm in diameter.
Thulo, a traditional dice game played by women along with bare feet was also highlight of the competition today. Other games include Belt wrestling, freestyle, stilt bamboo walking, Tug of war, Volleyball and Football.
