Sechü Zubza FC defeat Mez & Co 3-1 to win the Atuo Mezhür Sekhose Super League in Kohima.
KOHIMA — Sechü Zubza FC emerged champions of the 1st Atuo Mezhür Sekhose Super League – Champions Cup after defeating Mez & Co 3-1 in the final at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima, on Saturday.
League champions Sechü Zubza walked home with a cash prize of INR 1 lakh and INR 50,000 as the Champions Cup winners, while league runners-up Mez & Co received INR 70,000 and were awarded INR 30,000 as the Champions Cup runners-up. The other two semi-finalists received INR 10,000 each.
The first goal of the final came from Nisede Peseyie of Mez & Co in the 19th minute. Kevisanyü Peseyie of Sechü Zubza equalised in the 35th minute. The second half ended goalless, with the teams tied 1-1 after 90 minutes, taking the game to 30 minutes of extra time.
The breakthrough for Sechü Zubza came from Kevisanyü Peseyie, who scored his second goal in the 93rd minute, while Kekhrieletuo Tsira scored the third goal for the team in the 116th minute, taking the scoreline to 3-1.
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Mez & Co, despite their efforts, failed to score another goal after being reduced to 10 players following a red card in the 112th minute.
The final was officiated by Michael Dul as the main referee, with Medochülie Chütso and Kezevituo Vizo as assistant referees. Vihetuo Chietsu was the Fourth Official and Medozevi Punyü was the Match Commissioner.
The individual awards were presented to Ruokuovolie Phewhuo of Tsütuonuomia Youth Organisation, who received the Golden Gloves award with INR 3,000; Vanguard Football Academy, which received the Fairplay award with INR 8,000; Kevisanyü Peseyie of SZFC, who won the Golden Boot with INR 3,000; Vinato Achumi of Mez & Co, who received the Golden Ball with INR 5,000; and Aneizo Suokhrie of SZFC, who was named Best Emerging Player and received INR 3,000.
K Neibou Sekhose, President of the Nagaland Football Association (NFA) and Executive Member of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), congratulated the organisers during the closing ceremony on the successful league held in the name of Atuo Mezhür Sekhose, who contributed significantly to youth, sports and society.
Addressing the participants, he said winning and losing are part of the game, but what they had shown throughout the league was discipline, unity and sportsmanship, which is the true spirit of football. He encouraged them to take football to the national and international levels.
It may be mentioned that five teams, namely Mez & Co, Sechü Zubza FC, Tsütuonuomia Youth Organisation, Nurturing Youngsters FC and Vanguard Academy Tseminyu, participated in the league.