Mokokchung, October 3 (MExN): The MDFA Trophy this year promises to be bigger and better than any before. The prize money is more than ever before, the newly unveiled trophy is bigger than ever before. It is the silver jubilee year of the Mokokchung District Football Association. The ultimate winner of the 23rd MDFA Trophy will be making history as the first team to lift the new trophy - but who will it be? While it is difficult to get the whole bracket right, here is a brief analysis of the teams in the tournament. POOL A This is undoubtedly the tournament’s Group of Death comprising of Marepkong YA, Rongpang Reju SC, Intermingle Club and SC Mopungchuket. Marepkong YA has never won the trophy before but has always been that one team to beat every time they played. With no big names on their side, they have always been unpredictable and, therefore, difficult to beat. Rongpang Reju are erstwhile Arkong SC reincarnate, the undisputed champions during the late 90s. They are yet to win the trophy after renaming the club but they look well prepared this year. They have been practicing a lot and hard under their senior player R. Achi. A young team yearning to achieve what their seniors did exactly two decades ago – lifting the MDFA Trophy. Intermingle Club is considered pre-tournament favourites to win the title this year, their maiden trophy. With players like Sakutemjen on their side, and a host of non-indigenous players in their line-up, Intermingle are definitely a winning team. Soccer Club Mopungchuket is participating for the first time in 14 years after consistently performing during 1997-2002. Semi-finalists on three occasions, this is a team not to be written off too early and they could well turn out to be the tournament’s dark horses. Intermingle Club and Rongpang Reju are likely to qualify from this Pool. POOL B Nagaland University Lumami, Sports Society Soyim, Telongjem FC and Dominion Club will battle it out in this group. NU Lumami Team does not have much grit and usually lacks ‘combination’ on the field but if they could assess their weaknesses and regroup on time, perhaps this is the biggest chance to make their best performance at MDFA ever. Last year’s Most Promising Player Meyasenba features in this team. Traditionally a strong contingent, SSS is a team that can beat any other on their day. Perennial underachievers of sorts, this team from Ungma village are a team to watch out for as the tournament progresses. If the last few years’ performances are any indication, Telongjem FC from Chungtia village can be considered strong title favourites this year. Reinforced with some ‘imported’ players with the likes of Awangbo and last year’s highest scorer Nyithang, Telongjem FC has the calibre to make it all the way through. Not much is known of the debutants Dominion Club from Mokokchung town. Their anonymity, however, could turn out to be their strength. Stronger teams often underestimate inferior teams but Dominion Club is here for a reason. If you are scouting for hidden talents, Dominion Club is the answer. Telongjem FC are clear favourites to qualify from this Pool along with SSS, perhaps. POOL C Alempang YA from Mokokchung town and Arikotong Club from Mangmetong along with two debutants United Brothers FC and Mongsenbai Youngsters, both from Mokokchung town, will lock horns against each other in this Pool. Except for Arikotong Club, the three other teams are made up of purely local players and this pool offers the local players an opportunity to prove that they can play as good as any other player. Alempang YA has over the years given their opponents tough bouts, both on and off the field. Always playing their purely local boys, Alempang YA are one team that have inspired policy makers at MDFA to introduce the new rule restricting teams from roping in more than 4 non-indigenous players in their playing 11. Alempang YA are likely to make their best performance at any MDFA this year. United Brothers FC, with most of their players hailing from Majakong Ward, are playing for the first time in the tournament. United Brothers FC are an inspired lot and with a lot of self-confidence. Some familiar faces of erstwhile Majakong Sporting Club, two-time champions during 2008 and 2009, are the force behind this team. Mongsenbai Youngsters, yet another new entrant in this Pool, is also a team without any non-indigenous players. With last year’s Best Goalkeeper Nungsangyanger and Best Defender Bendangkumzuk as their marquee players, this is a particularly young but dynamic team with the potential to make some unexpected upsets in the tournament. Arikotong Club from Mangmetong is a formidable side reinforced with some non-indigenous players led by Maiku Kamei in their line up. They will give their all out effort to qualify from this Pool as leaders while the three other teams will ensure that it is not going to be a cake walk for them. Matches in this Pool should be interesting for spectators. Mongsenbai Youngsters are likely to follow Arikotong in qualifying from this Pool. POOL D This Pool comprises of only three teams – Grand Elite’s from Alichen, Mongolian United from Longsa village and Zonipang SA from Longkhum village. Team background of the boys from Alichen is not much known and, like Dominion Club in Pool B, could be up for some surprises. Alichen has always had a big talent pool in any sport and it won’t be wrong to expect some tough competition from their team in the tournament even though they may not have any known names in their team. Mongolian United is a young team and without any reinforcement by roping in non-indigenous players. Energetic and active though inexperienced, Mongolian United could be that one team that always wins the hearts of football fans, win or lose. Mongolian United and Grand Elite’s are both debutants in the tournament going against one-time champions Zonipang SA in this Pool. Zonipang SA from Longkhum village, who lifted the trophy in the year 2012 that landed them in playing at the Nagaland Football League, should be vying to lift the new MDFA Trophy. They have roped in some players like Stephen Rutsa sending strong signal that they are in the tournament for serious business. Zonipang SA is likely to qualify as leaders from this Pool followed by Grand Elite’s.
