MDFA Trophy 2019 kicks off

Ratobe Poireng, the 23-year old Naga football player from Pere, who recently made news by becoming the first Naga player to sign for a European football club after joining Lilla Torg FF in Sweden, is seen here in action at the rather muddy pitch of Imkongmeren Sports Complex, Mokokchung on the opening match day of the MDFA Trophy 2019. The marquee player of the defending champions Intermingle Club donning jersey number 10 helped his team trounce minnows Supervene Club by a margin of 9-0 goals which included two from his boots. (Morung Photo)

Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 1 

The 2019 edition of the Mokokchung District Football Association (MDFA) Trophy got underway here today at Imkongmeren Sports Complex with the inaugural match of the tournament being played between defending champions Intermingle Club and debutants Supervene Club. The new entrants, who are also the youngest team in the tournament with a team average age of just 18 years, were completely outplayed by the pre-tournament favourites. The young Supervene players looked clueless throughout the match as the superior Intermingle players kept the game under total control till the long whistle. Intermingle’s marquee players Ratobe Poireng went down the left flank and Hanglen kept the midfield steady to ensure their team register an emphatic victory. Supervene conceded 4 goals in the first half of the match and they were unable to effect any supervening turnaround in the second half either as they conceded another 5 goals after the lemon break.

Intermingle’s Hanglen scored the tournament’s first hat-trick while Poireng found the back of the net on two occasions. Imsuwapang and Opanglemzung added a goal each for Intermingle while Lanutoshi netted two more goals to trounce Supervene Club by nine goals to nil. Limasungkum of Intermingle was the first and only player to be booked for foul play.

Earlier in the day, Nagaland minister for Soil & Water Conservation and Geology & Mining, V. Kashiho Sangtam graced the opening ceremony of the tournament as chief patron. Considered to be the biggest sporting event in the district, MDFA Trophy 2019 will culminate on October 26. A total of 18 teams are competing in the tournament.
 

Today’s Matches
12:00 Noon – Alempang YA Vs Hills XI FC
02:00 PM – Unicorn FC Vs NUSU F/T