Advisor Tovihoto Ayemi kicks off the Dimapur District Football League 2026 at DDSC Stadium on Tuesday.
DIMAPUR — Advisor for Tribal Affairs and Election Tovihoto Ayemi kicked off the Dimapur District Football League 2026-cum-Late Hejeto Ayemi Memorial Trophy as special guest at the Dimapur District Sports Council (DDSC) Stadium on Tuesday.
In the opening match, Dimapur United Sporting Club defeated Thahekhu Youth FC 6-1.
The tournament, organised by the Dimapur District Football Association (DDFA), will continue till October 5 and features eight teams: Thahekhu Youth FC, Don Bosco Sports Academy, Kachari Sports Football Club, Dimapur United Sporting Club, East Dimapur Sumi Sports Association, Zeliangrong Village Youth Club, Indisen Football Club, and Akito FC.
Tovihoto Ayemi and his family are sponsoring the tournament and have committed to supporting it for the next 15 years. The tournament will also serve as a platform to select players for the Dimapur district team for the Dr. T Ao Trophy, scheduled to be held in Mokokchung from October 12.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ayemi said that the day marked a significant occasion for football in Dimapur, as the league represents the return of district-level football competition after a long gap.
He expressed that his family was honoured to contribute in this small way towards providing a platform for budding football talents in Dimapur to play and pursue the sport.
Ayemi shared that his late father was neither a football player, bureaucrat, nor political figure, but a humble man who believed in serving people and contributing to society. He was among those who helped lay the foundation of present-day Thahekhu and contributed to the development of Dimapur.
He added that his late father valued education deeply and, at a time when opportunities were limited, started a night school and taught children free of cost, believing education could transform lives and shape a better future.
Ayemi stated that the tournament is more than a sporting event, describing it as an opportunity for young people to compete, learn discipline, build friendships, and discover their potential, reflecting the values of service, opportunity, community, and concern for future generations that his father stood for.
He noted that the true success of the tournament will be measured by the talent it nurtures, the opportunities it creates, and the dreams it inspires.
Ayemi appealed to parents, schools, businesses, civil society, and football lovers across Dimapur to support the DDFA initiative, urging the creation of an environment where a footballer from Dimapur can dream of representing the district, Nagaland, and the country.