Dimapur, October 21: In an unprecedented development, Mokokchung district administration today ordered the suspension of the ongoing Mokokchung District Football Association (MDFA) Trophy while the second semi-final match was underway citing law and order situation in the district headquarters.
The order issued from the office of Deputy Commissioner, Mokokchung, stated, “It has come to the notice of the district administration that the ongoing MDFA Tournament has caused law and order situation in the district headquarter. Therefore, I am directed to suspend of the tournament with immediate effect.”
Meanwhile, a press statement from the MDFA issued jointly by MDFA tournament secretary, Supongwati, and the convenor of the organising committee, Aodangnok, has condemned the suspension of MDFA Trophy 2016. MDFA and the organising committee expressed shocked at the sudden suspension of the ongoing MDFA Trophy 2016 on October 21, 2016, while the second semi-final match was underway. While it is understandable that there was some misunderstanding among the teams playing the tournament from time to time for varied reasons, the Mokokchung district administration giving a suspension order of the most popular and much awaited football tournament in the district, without calling the MDFA or the organising committee for a consultation, is most shocking and uncalled for, the statement read.
It said MDFA has been organising the trophy year after year, despite many hardships, with an aim of promoting the young talents and also for promoting the game of football in the district.
Stating that organising this trophy is by no means an easy task, it said people from all walks of life come to witness the matches. While acknowledging that there would be some misunderstanding among the supporters of the different teams, it said the district administration, the police, the civil societies and the general public at large had been instrumental in quelling the hitches faced at the MDFA trophies in the previous years.
Citing unforeseen hitches, it said in this year’s edition of the MDFA the 1st Semi-final match between Sports Society Suyim and Dilong Youth Association had to be stopped because of incompetent and unprofessional referring. Towards this end, it said the referee of the day was suspended by the panel of jury, sub-committee MDFA Trophy 2016. It said the situation was brought to an amicable conclusion and the match was refixed on October 22 with the actively coordination of MDFA along with the teams and other stakeholders.
However, Mokokchung district administration stopped the ongoing 2nd semi-final match between Fusion SC & Shitilong SA saying, “the tournament has caused law and order situation in the district HQ.”
It said the shocking order came out of the blue when the MDFA officials were trying their best to bring an amicable understanding between the teams. It added that the order has also hurt the sentiments of the MDFA members since the association is of the view that MDFA Trophy 2016 has not brought about any law and order problem in the district headquarter.
MDFA and the organising committee have questioned the motive behind the district administration in suspending the MDFA Trophy 2016, saying the suspension has given a big blow to the prestige of the tournament, the game of football in Mokokchung district, the football players and supporters in the district.
MDFA and the organising committee also questioned the motive of district administration as the MDFA Trophy is being organised under the patronage of the Mokokchung District Sports Council in which the Deputy Commissioner is the chairman. Stating that the district administration had always given strong support to the MDFA Trophy in the past years, it said the suspension of this year’s edition of the MDFA Trophy was questionable. While taking serious note of the development, MDFA has decided to call a meeting with different stakeholders for further course of action.
Meanwhile, MDFA and the MDFA Trophy 2016 organising committee have expressed regret for the turn of events and apologised to the football fans of Mokokchung for the inconveniences caused due to unavoidable circumstances. At the same time, MDFA strongly solicited the unwavering moral support of the general public towards the Mokokchung District Football Association for the promotion of football and the footballers in the district and State.
