Defending champions Mon face former winners Tuensang in the 25th Dr. T Ao Trophy final at Ungma, Mokokchung
KOHIMA — Neighbouring districts Mon and Tuensang will face off in the final of the 25th Dr. T Ao Trophy (Inter-District Football Championship) on Thursday, with defending champions Mon looking to preserve their unbeaten run and former winners Tuensang seeking to reclaim the title.
The final will be held at Renpo Lu Sports Complex, Ungma, Mokokchung, with the closing ceremony scheduled to begin at 5.30 pm. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio will attend as guest of honour, while Rural Development and SIRD Minister Metsubo Jamir will be the chief host.
Mon have maintained an unbeaten record throughout the tournament, winning all their group-stage matches before overcoming Longleng 4-2 in the quarter-finals and Peren 2-1 in the semi-finals.
Tuensang, champions in 2024, began their campaign with a commanding 9-0 win over Meluri and followed it with a 2-1 victory over Mokokchung. They lost 0-1 to Wokha in the group stage but recovered to reach the final, defeating Phek and Zunheboto through penalty shoot-outs in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, respectively.
Also read: Tuensang defeat Zunheboto on penalties to reach Dr. T Ao Trophy final
Mon’s attacking threat has been led by Eshong Konyak, who scored twice in the semi-final against Peren to take his tournament tally to six goals. Nokwang Konyak has also contributed with multiple goals during the campaign.
For Tuensang, Ayenmongba has been a key figure in the attack, scoring a hat-trick against Meluri; the captain is the team’s leading scorer with four goals.
Speaking to , Mon captain A Amun Munsaham said the team was confident ahead of the final but would not underestimate its opponents.
“Being the defending champions comes with responsibility, and we respect our opponents. Reaching the final is one thing, but winning it requires hard work, discipline and determination,” he said.
Munsaham said the players were working hard in training and preparing both physically and mentally for the decisive match. He urged his teammates to remain united, respect their opponents and the referees, and uphold the spirit of the game.
He also thanked supporters for standing by the team since its victory last year, saying their encouragement had helped motivate the players throughout the tournament.
Tuensang captain S Ayenmongba said that leading his district into the final for the first time was a proud and memorable moment. He expressed gratitude to his teammates for their trust and said the team was determined to make the district proud.
Ayenmongba urged his teammates to believe in themselves, remain united and continue fighting until the final whistle. He also thanked supporters for their encouragement and prayers, describing them as an important source of motivation.
“If we win tomorrow, it will be a dream come true, a chance to make our Tuensang family proud, and proof that all our hard work, sacrifices and prayers were worth it,” he said.
The tournament has also attracted substantial online viewership. The semi-final between Tuensang and Zunheboto had garnered more than 748,000 views on SportsCast India’s official YouTube channel within 19 hours, while the Mon-Peren semi-final had recorded over 583,000 views, according to figures available at the time of filing this report.