Miss Nagaland 2022 Hikali Achumi and others with players of the inaugural match of Morning Premier League at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima on May 1. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | May 1
The G-Sports presents Morning Premier League (MPL) kicked start today at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima under the banner of Morning Football Association (MFA).
Hikali Achumi, Miss Nagaland 2022 unveiled MPL trophy at the colorful opening ceremony this morning.
Mengu Suokhrie and Virie presented special song while UNA1 performed scintillating dance.
Mele Pucho scored as host of the opening ceremony. Burakum administered oath to the participating teams, followed by players entry with Whito school students.
Lipok highlighted the background of MPL while Arep, pastor KABA invoked God’s blessing.
Chiset was commentator of the opening ceremony.
The partners of MPL includes Whito School, Kohima, Innovations plus, Chumoukedima, Crescent International, Touch Enterprise and Symphony Café.
All Blacks FC wins inaugural match
All Blacks FC blanked Mustang FC 8-0 in the inaugural match.
Kezevituo fetched a hattrick for All Blacks FC while Kekhriesietuo netted two goals. Azo, Visa and Senti also contributed a goal each for the team.
Meanwhile, WELP FC will face Secretariat United FC on May 2 at 6:30 AM.
This MPL will continue till August 2023.
The participating teams includes; All Blacks FC, Mustang FC, WELP FC, Secretariat United FC, Orient FC, Unity FC, GethemGo FC, Morung United FC, Merhulietsa FC and Vanguard OB FC
About MPL
The MPL started during 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.
The idea was forthcoming and that's how the Morning Premier League came into being.
MPL is a unique one-of-a-kind league where matches are played only in the morning.
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 target mostly older players between their late 20's and early 40's.
MPL is an initiative of MFA and is primarily managed by MFA Executives and MPL Managing Committee.
The first season of MPL in 2015 saw Directorate of School Education Football Club (DSEFC) winning the title.
With its motto “Health and Friendship,” 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).
As it follows the norms of international leagues, each game is played and managed as professional as possible with qualified officials and statisticians.
