MLA Dr Tseilhoutuo Rhutso with others during Season launch, team announcement and jersey launch of Morning Premier League (MPL) 2023 in Kohima on April 29.
Our Correspondent
Kohima | April 29
The Season launch, team announcement and jersey launch of G-Sports presents Morning Premier League (MPL) 2023 under the banner Morning Football Association took place today at Symphony Café.
MLA Dr Tseilhoutuo Rhutso graced the occasion as special guest.
Addressing the launching programme, Rhutso said he felt encouraged to know about the league and that it was a players-funded league to maintain health and friendships. He said that friendship increases one’s knowledge and confidence and the money they spend on playing the tournament and maintaining their health would be much more beneficial than going to the hospital for a treatment. He also encouraged the players to set an example for the youngsters through their conduct and habits.
He also suggested similar leagues be introduced in other districts as well. While stating that the teams would have many leaders, he encouraged the players to use their influence to bring out good leaders in all the districts to witness a prosperous State.
The opening ceremony will take place on May 1 at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima at 6:30 am. All Blacks FC will face Mustang FC in the inaugural match.
The story of MPL began during the summer of 2011 when a group of 10 to 15 amateur footballers just for their unconditional love of the beautiful game, decided to drive up to Kohima Science College Ground Jotsoma early one morning to play a match.
Soon, what began as a leisure time/pass became a daily routine. This group of players then decided to form a club in order to play friendly matches with other clubs.
In 2015, during one of their friendly matches with Amur Falcon Football Club (AFFC), Loben Jamir and Lipok Lemtur of MFC came up with the idea of starting a football league along with AFFC if the other players agree with it.
The idea was forthcoming and that’s how the Morning Premier League came into being.
Morning Premier League is a unique one-of-a-kind league where matches are played only in the morning from 5:30-7:30.
The purpose of this league is to create health consciousness, camaraderie and competitive mentality and to promote sportsmanship in a safe, healthy and fun loving environment.
MPL also tend to do charitable work from this year.MPL target mostly older players between their late 20’s and early 40’s.
MPL is an initiative of Morning Football Association (MFA) and is primarily managed MFA Executives and MPL Managing Committee.
The first season of MPL in 2015 saw Directorate of School Education Football Club (DSEFC) winning the title. The league started in August 2015 and ended in the month of October. The second season of MPL is still ongoing. It began in April of this year and slated to finish in June.
MFA also conducts another tournament which happens during the latter part of the year known as Lobenkokba Memorial Morning Champions Cup (named after co-founder, Late Lobenkokba Jamir).
MPL is entirely run from the registration fees and monthly contribution from the respective teams in the League.
As it follows the norms of international leagues, each game is played and managed as professional as possible with qualified officials and statisticians.
Meanwhile, the organizers invite clubs to come and have a taste of a league football and make MPL the league of Nagaland as envisioned by the founders.
