Passion for sports ignited at Tuli

LKM’s meet witnesses enthusiastic fan support

Moa Jamir

Tuli | January 16   With enthusiastic responses from the village teams, the 31st edition of LKM’s Sports Meet saw events played and witnessed with great passion and varying emotions from both players and spectators.   [caption id="attachment_177209" align="aligncenter" width="700"]A Child A child perched on his father’s shoulder watching an ongoing volleyball match.[/caption] 19 villages of Langpangkong Range had converged at Tuli Town for the Langpangkong Students Conference or Langpangkong Kaketshir Mungdang’s (LKM) General Conference cum Sports Meet.

Held triennially, it commenced on January 12 and concluded yesterday.  Langpangkong Range is one of the six major mountain ranges inhabited by the Aos in the Mokokchung District. While Merangkong was the host village, it was held in Tuli Lenden, as the area falls under its jurisdiction.  

As the penultimate day approached, tensions ran high as passion for the game became magnified through varied mechanism.   [caption id="attachment_177210" align="aligncenter" width="700"]Hue and colors Spectators in varied hues and colours watching the match.[/caption] “My heart is bursting with tension,” a lady supporter from Unger village exclaimed with great trepidation at the sideline of the football semifinal against Changtongya Village.   [caption id="attachment_177211" align="aligncenter" width="700"]People perched on trees People climb trees and sits precariously as they watch their home team in action during the 31st LKM Conference-cum- Sports’ Meet at Tuli on January 15.[/caption]

When the match ended goalless and went for a tie-breaker, most of the supporters turned their back and made silent prayers as their home team players made their shots. Some covered their eyes while other murmured silent prayers.

When the match went in favor of Changtongya, a lady from the village showed a bag whose cord was snapped. Apparently, she had snapped it in her anxiety during the shoot-out.  

As the sporting event continued, utmost rivalries got built; but all in a healthy sporting competition. Everyone became match analysts, dissecting every move of their teams as well as their rivals.  

On the final day, the crowd attendance swelled as people from all walks of life converged at Tuli Town to root for their team. Children perched on their parents’ shoulders; some clung precariously on side plank while others climbed trees to get a glimpse of the ongoing games.  

The fans were fervent and emotions often ran high, but they were never rowdy or disruptive. It helped that they were warned in advance by the host Village Council as well the army of volunteers not to create unruly scene during the matches.   Instead, they fought it out by singing and chanting their respective village anthems and involving in friendly banters with the other side. Even the motivating gospel hymns and Revival songs were belted without much ado during the intense moments of the game.   [caption id="attachment_177212" align="aligncenter" width="700"]Supporter rooting Spectators rooting for their team enthusiastically during a football match at the 31st LKM Conference-cum- Sports’ Meet at Tuli on January 15.[/caption] Some banged drums, other blew horns and used water bottles as instruments while fans clad in various hues and colors savored the matches. The ladies supports were the most vocal of them.   [caption id="attachment_177213" align="aligncenter" width="700"]The contrasting pictures of a winning and losing team The picture says it all. Contrasting emotions of the supporter shows how passionately and fervently they support their home team.[/caption] Commentators too joined the bandwagon often building up the excitement by inciting the crowd humorously as they resorted to different tactics to show their loyalties.   In the process, tall promises are made and rewards announced spontaneously. In the final football match between Changtongya and Merangkong Village, a women organisation announced cash prize for any goal scorer from the latter village. “I will double the amount for any scorer from our village,” retorted a rival spectator.   [caption id="attachment_177214" align="aligncenter" width="700"]The winner takes it all The Winner takes it all. The players of Merangkong Village jubilates after winning the coveted Boys’ Football Finals  at the 31st LKM Conference-cum- Sports’ Meet at Tuli on January 15.[/caption] Ultimately, it was a triumph of sporting spirits, offering its patrons with varied emotions and excitation creating memorable moments for both spectators as well as players.   In the end, the host village Merangkong was declared the overall Champion of the Sports Meet winning both the Boy’s Volleyball and Football games. The village was also runner-up in the Girls’ Volleyball.  Salulamang village won the girls’ Volleyball while Changtongya Village and Changtongya Yimsen were the runners-up in Boys’ volleyball and football respectively.