Victory for Terriers, OKA and Yaongyimsen United
Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 14
Naga Terriers pummelled a helpless Mount View United 9-0 to secure a semi-finals place in the ongoing Dimapur District Football Referees Association (DDFRA) 1st Open Football Tournament at the DDSC Stadium. Chingsa starred in the 9-0 goal fest for the Terriers striking home 7 times. He scored the first 4 goals before Haotinmang joined him to score the 5th and 6th goals. Chingsa wrapped it up scoring the last final 3 goals in a space of 8 minutes – 60th, 61st and 68th.
In another one-sided game, OKA FC drubbed Chutsole Kickers FC 6-0. Rhitso Mero and Kakhevi both struck twice, while Aloumei and Aben finished with one each. With the win, OKA made it to the quarters.
In the match between SAI STC and Yaongyimsen United FC, SAI was spared the blushes after Yaongyimsen conceded an own goal. With a goal each from Imliwati and Roto, Yaongyimsen was leading 2-0 in the second-half before an own goal debacle in the 54th minute. With the win, Yaongyimsen made it to the semi-finals of the knock out tournament.
Kivi Zhimomi attends as special guest
Kivi Zhimomi, who is set to play in the ISL, was also in attendance as a special guest today. The 22 year-old was recently signed by NE United FC for a 3-year deal to play at the big bucks Indian Soccer League.
He accompanied his mentor and Nagaland State Sports Academy football coach Mughato, who was invited by the DDFRA to be the patron of the day’s matches.
Zhimomi’s signing by NE United is significant for the simple fact that there are only a handful of footballers from Nagaland currently playing at the top rung of Indian football. He is the 4th player from Nagaland after James Kithan (Churchill Brothers), Visalie (Lajong) and Neithovilie (Churchill Brothers) to play for the top clubs at present.
Before the ISL signing, Zhimomi was playing for Gokulam Kerala FC where he made an indelible mark as a Naga footballer earlier this year. He scored 3 goals in 13 I-League appearances and also became the first Nagaland player to score in the League. He made the I-League debut in January.
Speaking to The Morung Express, Zhimomi described his achievement as the realisation of his dream to play in the top echelon of Indian football.
Stating that it was his faith in God and his determination, he made special mention of his former coach and mentor Mughato, whose support, he added was instrumental in leveraging him to where he is today. He also expressed his gratitude to Akihito Zhimomi, team manager of Naga Tornadoes – a team that made a sensation in the short-lived Nagaland Premier League.
“He believed in himself. He was determined, committed and followed his dream,” was how coach Mughato described Zhimomi.
He started playing in 2010 while joining the Nagaland Sports Academy in Dimapur. He got a taste of state football 2 years later playing for Naga Tornadoes and Kohima Komets in the NPL. He also played for Barak FC in the NSF Martyrs’ Trophy.
He also has eyes set to one day playing in Europe.
While the achievement has been huge for him, he however pointed to the lack of wholehearted state support to the growth of football and promotion of footballers in Nagaland. “The state government should give greater focus to developing mentoring facilities for budding footballers,” he said. The handful of Nagaland’s sports facilities are at present mostly dilapidated and ill-equipped.
“I realised how insignificant we are in Indian football despite us (Nagaland) being dubbed as ardent football followers and players,” he remarked. The realisation hit him hard when he made his I-League debut in January. “At first, my team mates thought I was an overseas player. They haven’t heard of Nagaland and those who did, assumed that it was a foreign country.”
Stating that he follows a strict personal training regime, he held that other Naga players like him can make it to the top provided the right environment and facilities.
