Correspondent
Kohima, Sept 29
Come October 13 football fans enjoying the month long soccer tourney in Kohima under the aegis of Angami Students’ Union (ASU) are working to exhibit one of the best matches of the year at Kohima Local Ground.Coinciding with the ongoing month long NSF Martyrs’ Memorial tourney which is witnessing the participation of highest number of teams (65), ASU is all geared up to host the standard exhibition match between champions of Shillong Premier League Royal Wahingdoh Club and current champions of Classic Club Nagaland, Kohima Komets.
The match scheduled for October 13 at 1:30 pm at Kohima Local Ground though exhibition would bring about amongst the best footballing talents in Meghalaya and Nagaland.
Addressing a press conference, Event Coordinator Roko Angami along with ASU president Zakie Khate, ASU sports secretary Mathew Yhome and co-convenor 14th NSF Martyrs’ Memorial trophy Neinguvotuo Krose here this evening said “the match is being organized in order to make the memorial trophy sustainable in itself”.
“The main objective of the exhibition match is to aid and enhance the Late Kekuozalie and Vikhozo Memorial Trust fund,” he said adding that “we also want this exhibition match to reach out as a goodwill mission among all communities within and beyond the state”.
He said that through the match the organizers want to expose our local talents to rub shoulders with other football professionals beyond the boundary and promoting football to higher level.
ASU president Zakie Khate said that the fund generated from the exhibition match would not only help in sustainability of the memorial soccer tourney but also for conducting various educational seminars and social issues concerning the ASU.
Conducted in aid of the memorial trust fund, the tickets for the match is fixed at Rs.100 for the gallery seats and Rs.1000 for donors willing to help the students’ organization.
Khate maintained that organizing the tourney as a student body for the last 26 years has been a tough journey burdening well-wishers of the community ranging from politicians, contractors, bureaucrats and businessman. But, he said, “we hope to make some fund available for the tournament and other concerned activities of ASU”.
ROYAL WAHINGDOH CLUB, SHILLONG
Historically known as Wahingdoh Sports Club was founded in 1946 before winning numerous titles and slowly making its mark in the Shillong football scene. However, as the years progressed, more professional clubs began making their entry into the leagues organised in Shillong, making the competition stiffer than it already was. The amateur club found it difficult to cope with the younger clubs and slowly, its downfall began.
In 2007, Wahingdoh Sports Club nearly faced relegation to the 2nd Division League, and as a result of inconsistent performance, the Wahingdoh community felt the need for a younger and more innovative approach. The club finally turned professional in 2008 after merging with Royal Football Club. Thereafter, the club was renamed Royal Wahingdoh FC under the able leadership of the club’s new owner Dominic Sutnga Tariang.
Several dramatic changes were made in and within the club, and in the same very year of its reformation, the club unexpectedly bounced back to claim third spot in the 2nd Division Regional League.
Royal Wahingdoh FC fans still remember the team’s stupendous performance in the First Division 2009 season where they established a record by winning all their games besides scoring 52 goals en route to lifting the title and along with it, an entry into the top tier of Meghalaya football, “The Shillong Premiere League.”
The club created history in the Shillong Premier League 2010 season by becoming the first team to win the title on debut after beating Shillong Lajong FC through tiebreaker.
Another record was set in August, 2012 when the Royals won their third consecutive Shillong Premier League finals after beating Rangdajied United FC. Royal Wahingdoh FC is currently competing in national tournaments including the 2nd Division I League and the Federation Cup.
KOHIMA KOMETS
Kohima Komets is a premier sporting Club based in Kohima, Nagaland.
The Club was established with the objective of setting up a professionally managed football team which can compete at international level. This will create career opportunities for Local Naga youths and strengthen the economy of the State. The club is backed by businessmen, contractors and professionals from varied field both financially and technically. The involvement of the patrons are mainly as a Social Service towards the Society. There is immense potential in the Field of Sport especially Football among the Naga Youth however with the absence of professionally managed clubs, players are unable to pursue it as a career. The club is in the process of setting up a private academy to groom and train younger players also provide free training facility for the Naga Youth.
It also played in the 2nd division in I-League in 2013. It finished 6th place in Nagaland Premier League 2012 and is currently played in Nagaland Premier League 2013. Kohima Komets are the current champions of Classic Cup Kohima.
