Officials inspect the Ungma venue and announce the fixture draw date for the 25th Dr. T Ao Trophy in Mokokchung.
DIMAPUR — Ahead of the 25th Dr. T Ao Trophy (Inter-District Football Championship), an official inspection was conducted at the tournament venue in Mokokchung on Saturday, while the Nagaland Football Association (NFA) announced that the tournament fixture draw will be held in Kohima on September 21.
The tournament, organised by the NFA and hosted by the Mokokchung District Football Association (MDFA), is scheduled to be held from October 13 to the 31st at Rempo Lu Astroturf in Ungma, Mokokchung.
According to a circular issued by NFA, the fixture draw will take place on September 21 from 1 pm onwards at the conference hall of the NFA office, RK Providence Building, Merhulietsa Colony, Kohima.
All 17 member district football associations of the NFA have been directed to attend without fail. Members of the organising committee and various sub-committees have also been requested to attend.
Meanwhile, the inspection was led by NFA President Neibu Sekhose, alongside Director of Youth Resources and Sports Kethosituo Sekhose and the chief engineer of the Department of Youth Resources and Sports.
The review was held in the presence of the Mokokchung deputy commissioner, superintendent of police, MDFA officials, and members of the organising committee led by the co-convenor. During the visit, officials took stock of ongoing construction and assessed remaining requirements.
Speaking to the media, Kethosituo Sekhose said the visit aimed to evaluate preparation works and deliberate on technical aspects of hosting the tournament. Commending the work done so far, he stressed the need for timely completion and expressed confidence that the stadium would be ready on time.
Recalling the previous edition at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Kohima, which had a capacity of 13,000 and drew over 30,000 spectators for the final, Sekhose noted that while the Ungma venue is situated on the outskirts, high-standard facilities are being developed to host football enthusiasts.
He added that football is gaining significant momentum in the state, hinting at upcoming announcements regarding football development and stating that national-level matches would be staged in Nagaland. He also cited Nagaland's hosting of the Dr. Talimeren Ao Junior Girls' National Championship as a milestone.
NFA President Sekhose described the Dr. T Ao Trophy as a premier inter-district football tournament in the country, noting that the sport unites people across tribal lines.
He stated that the NFA is inviting officials from clubs Dr. Talimeren Ao represented during his career, as well as representatives of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Northeast Football Development, to celebrate the silver jubilee edition.