Kohima Bureau
Kohima, Jan. 28 (EMN): The 22-year-old Kivi Zhimomi, a striker for Gokulam Kerala Football Club (GKFC), has become the first footballer from Nagaland to score in the I-League, one of India’s top two professional football leagues.
The player scored the goal on Sun. against Shillong Lajong FC in a match played at the EMS Corporation Stadium in Kozhikode in Kerala. In the match, host team Gokulam Kerala FC came from behind to beat Shillong Lajong FC 3-2 and moved to the eighth spot in the I-League football championship.
“Gokulam’s tireless striker Kivi Zhimomi made it 2-2 as he gave the finishing touch to a remarkable move down the centre that featured T V Mohammed Irshad, Al-Ajmi, Ugandan Mudde Musa and K Salman; eight passes were made before that goal was scored,” reported the Sportstarlive.
Talking to Eastern Mirror, Zhimomi said: “First of all, I would like to thank God, and I am blessed to score first goal in Hero Indian League and will be looking forward to score more goals by God's grace."
A product of State Sports Academy in Dimapur, Kivi dedicated the goal to his family and "special one” academy coach Mughato Sumi saying that ‘he always believed in me.’ Zhimomi was born and brought up in Dimapur and is the youngest of six children. He started his football career in the year 2010 from State Sports Academy in Dimapur. He can play as striker or winger. He has played for Viva Chennai FC, Rangdajied United FC, Shillong. He has also formerly played for Mohammedan Sporting Club, Kolkata – one of the oldest football clubs in Asia.
Kivi Zhimomi is the 4th person from Nagaland to play at India’s top tier league after Kwethelhi Thopi, James Kithan, and Roko Angami.
