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Our Correspondent
Kohima, Sep. 28 (EMN):The 21st edition of the Naga Students' Federation (NSF) Martyrs' Memorial Trophy has been scheduled to be held from October 9 to November 6 at Indira Gandhi Stadium in Kohima.
The organisers of the football tournament Angami Students' Union (ASU) informed this at a press conference in Kohima on Tuesday.
Convenor of the 21st edition, Dievi Yano informed that due to the pandemic, the tournament was withheld last year and a special edition was organised instead. However, with relaxations this time, the tournament will be held from October 9 to November 6.
‘Normally, the tournament has been held at Kohima local ground every year since 1986. But, for the first time, the venue has been changed to IG Stadium this year. It will be introducing night matches starting from quarter-final to final. Further, the tournament will have a family atmosphere. Thus, parents and children are welcomed to witness the matches’, he informed.
'We will be following all Covid protocols. Participants must be asymptomatic and fully vaccinated or have taken the first dose of vaccine. Participants failing will have to produce Covid negative results', the convenor further informed.
Besides teams from Nagaland, they are expecting teams from Manipur as well.
The prize money is INR 5,40,000. Champion will fetch INR 2 lakh while the runner-up will win INR 1.20 lakh. The losing semi-finalist will receive INR 30,000 each and losing quarter-finalist will get INR 15,000 each. Cash awards will also be given to individuals in various best categories- midfielder, defender, custodian, highest scorer and player of the tournament. Entry fee for each team has been fixed at INR 5,000.
As for entry fee, except for the inaugural match, INR 30 would be charged for the round matches and it will increase in the quarter final matches. For students in uniform, concession will be given. However, they will not be allowed for matches during class hours.
In case of unforeseen situations during the match, the event is bound to be cancelled, it was informed.
It may be mentioned that the NSF trophy started in the late 80's in honour and remembrance of late Kekuojalie Sachü of Kohima village and late Vikhozo Yhoshü of Kigwema village, who were victims of indiscriminate firing of the Nagaland Armed Police from Alichen, while participating in Naga Students' Federation (NSF) fight for a 'just and rightful cause' in March 20, 1986 against the then State Government's decision on the extension of disturbed area belt from 5 km to 20 km along the Indo - Myanmar border and against the Induction of Indian Police Service (IPS) cadres into the state of Nagaland.