A greener game: Football to create environmental consciousness

Our Correspondent
Kohima, June 2 (EMN): As a step towards a greener earth and to create environmental consciousness in citizens, a football exhibition match will be played between Manipur team featuring players from Indian Super League against Nagaland team on the eve of World Environment Day, where tree saplings would be distributed to spectators.

The Kohima Forest Division and Kohima Town Club (KTC) had collaborated to organise the exhibition match between KTC XI (Nagaland) and Kangleipak Pari (Manipur) on June 4 (Saturday) scheduled at 5:30 pm at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima.

‘This time, we are using sport as a tool to instil environmental awareness among the youths’, Kohima Divisional Forest Officer, Rajkumar M, said during the jersey launch programme held at the office complex on Thursday.

Among many climate crisis messages designed on the jersey, was the colour of one shirt in white (green) and orange (reddish) that signify the rising level of global warming over the years.

The three jerseys launched were also in scripted with, “Because we only have ONE EARTH”.

Towards the exhibition match, the Kohima Forest Division had arranged over 2000 saplings for distribution to spectators on first-come-first basis in hope that they would plant it and become more environment conscious in the future.

The office had taken up multiple activities through different mode in the past. But for this year’s World Environment Day, we are looking at creating awareness by using football as a tool. In this regard, a “green pledge” will also be taken on the day of the match, the officer informed.

Speaking about the exhibition match, KTC President, Dr. Viketoulie Pienyü said that the idea behind roping in players from ISL was to inspire the boys. ‘For a long time, people have not seen “class” football and hopefully this will be one. It is the first of its kind and definitely will not be the last’, he added.

With the idea to promote local talent and provide a platform in the form of organising leagues to youngsters, the KTC was formed in 2016. To date, the club has organised three league editions including the recently concluded Kohima Super Cup 2022, in which “a lot of talents were groomed”, he informed.

For Saturday’s exhibition match, 20 best players from the Kohima Super Cup 2022 have been selected to represent Kohima Town Club (KTC) XI against a team of Indian Super League (ISL) players from Kangleipak Pari (Manipur).

The line up for team KTC-XI include – Neithovilie (GK) – New Market FC, Dziesengulie Kire (GK) – Barak FC, Temjenwati (Def) – G-Sports FC, Sanyem (Def) – New Market FC, Benrithung (Def) – New Market FC, Mhasikhoto (Def) – A-Yhome FC, Bapen (Def) – Aphuyemi FC, Asito Krose (Mid F) – G-Sports FC, Haotingmang Thomsong (Mid F) – New Market FC, Awang (Mid F) – Barak FC, Hekato Aye (Def) – Aphuyemi FC, Lironthung (Def) – Aphuyemi, Nyithong (Mid F) – New Market FC, Sinlo Kent (Mid F) – New Market FC, Ringham (Mid F) – A-Yhome FC, Kekhrieletuo Tsira (Mid F)- G-Sports FC, Rhitso Mero  – New Market FC, Yhunshalo Kemp – G-Sports FC, Dupisa – Magdaline FC and Senenlo (Def) – A-Yhome FC.

The line for team Kangleipak Pari (Manipur) include – Nawaz (Mumbai FC), Rahul, Rakip ( Mumbai FC), Ranjan (Chennaiyin FC), Pritam ( Hyderabad FC), Shahbaaz, Tondonba (Northeast FC), Naocha (Mumbai FC), Chinglensana (Hyderabad FC), Imran (Northeast FC), Tondonba Naorem (Mumbai FC), Boris (Jameshedpur FC), Ninthoi (Chennaiyin FC), Angousana (SC Eastbengal), Jacki (Kerala Blaster), Thoiba (Odisha FC), Bidyasagar (Bangalore FC), Bipin (Mumbai FC), Yasir (Hyderabad FC), Seityasen (Hyderabad FC), Reagan (Chennaiyin FC) and Amarjit (SC Eastbengal).