Morning Champions Cup: Football with a cause

KOHIMA, AUGUST 30: The soccer season is back and the state’s capital Kohima would be hosting some major football tournaments during the next couple of months.
As announced in the local dailies, the NSF Martyr’s Trophy, one of the highest participated soccer tournaments in the state, will kick off on September 24 and will go on till October 22. Prior to that, the Kohima Local Ground will also host the Capt. Neikezhakuo Kenguruse Memorial Football Tournament from September 12 to 19. Though not announced yet, it is likely that the Classic Cup would also be held during the later part of this year.
Out of the many soccer tournaments, here is one tournament which many of us are not aware, or even heard of it though the tournament had started since August 16 at D Khel Ground, Kohima village.This tournament, known as ‘Morning Champions Cup’, has been organised at D. Khel Ground. The tournament has participation from six teams: Medical XI, AFFC, PowComm FC, MFC, Merhülietsa FC and Merhülietsa Sunrisers.
What is interesting about this tournament is that, it is being organized with a difference. The concept of the tourney is to focus solely on promoting good health and creating friendship among football players. The tournament has no cash awards or trophies, while it is also being organized without any sponsors.
Talking to Eastern Mirror, the chief organizer, Loben Jamir said that the target for the players to participate in the tournament was mostly above 30 years. The players are mostly senior footballers who are currently fighting alcohol addiction.
“The tournament is aimed at promoting good health among senior soccer players in Kohima who are on the verge of retiring from football. Many of them have become lethargic and are now addicted to alcohol, so the tournament aims to encourage them to do away with their old habits and attract them to get back to the football ground so that they may stay fit and healthy,” Jamir said.
Going by its name, the tournament aims to bring the players to the ground early in the morning so that they start their day fresh and fit. The timing for the matches is from 5 am to 7.30 am.
With six teams, the tournament is conducted in league basis. By previous week, six matches were already played. In Tuesday’s match, Merhülietsa FC downed MFC. On August 31, Medical XI will play against Merhülietsa Sunrisers, followed by the match between AFFC and PowComm FC on September 1.
The first semifinal match is scheduled on September 20, followed by the second semifinal on September 21. The final would be held on September 24 at the same venue.
It may be mentioned that this is the third Morning Premier League. The first tournament started last year in the month of August with the participation of three teams, while the second tournament was held in May and June this year with four teams.
The organisers have plans to organise such more tournaments in the future, hoping that more teams would turn up to participate in the tournament, abiding with the concept of the organisers, that is, to stay fit.