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Our Correspondent
Kohima, April 16 (EMN): The Kohima District Football Association (KDFA) on Saturday launched its official kit for the 22nd Dr. T Ao inter-district football championship, scheduled to be held in Mokokchung from April 18 onwards.
Altogether, 20 players representing KDFA along with team officials would leave for Mokokchung on Monday morning for the football tournament.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, K Kire, DGP (Rtd.) and president of Nagaland Veteran Football Association, said that the trophy is a big tournament not only in Nagaland but in the whole Northeast as well.
Kire, a former footballer who represented Nagaland during the late 1960s and 70s, said that Nagaland was at the top in football during those years. "Unfortunately, we are at the bottom now", he lamented. When compared with those days, the standard of football at present is "very sad", he added.
A lot of people, who were really good at sports, could not take care of themselves. They started indulging in drinking and many of them have passed on, he said and told the players to behave and look after themselves.
Congratulating the shortlisted players, he encouraged them to give their best. 'It's not always about winning, even in losing you exhibit your sportsmanship', he said and advised them to be dedicated and faithful.
Roko Angami, senior vice president, KDFA and president of Nagaland Football Coaches Association, while sharing his love for football said that it is something "very special" to him, which cannot be expressed in words.
He informed that he started playing football when he was in class 6. Since then, he decided to take football as a career to earn a livelihood and informed that he never gave up his dream but instead, took it "very seriously".
Starting from 1990, he represented Nagaland and played at various levels. As a footballer, he not only kicked the ball but worshiped it. "Football is my life and I am proud to be a footballer", he said and credited God and his widowed-mother for who he is today.
Through football, he was able to travel to many places, which he had never dreamt of and informed that he had been to places like Israel, Singapore, Nepal and big cities across the country.
I made a lot of friends and met with prominent leaders, he said.
Dr. T Ao trophy is one of the biggest tournaments in the state, he said and urged the players to take it seriously. "If you make it as a career, you can earn from it", Roko, who is now looking after his family by taking football as a profession, told the players.
He encouraged them to be patient, work hard, and make the best use of their effort and added that self discipline is very important.
Vice president, KDFA (administration), Neidilhoutuo Neibu Sechü, informed that 26 players were initially selected but 20 got shortlisted to represent KDFA at the upcoming tournament.
Out of 20 players, 10 have represented Nagaland at the Northeast level, he said.
It may be mentioned that Vizovor Liezietsu is the team coach, Visakholie Medoze as the asst. coach, Azho Sophie and Zakietuolie Khrodi as the team manager and asst. manager respectively, Zakielatuo Seletsu as the team physio, Kevisalie Sechü as the team captain and Neikethozo Yhome as the vice captain.