The 14th edition of the Lotha Football Championship, organized by the Wokha District Football Association (WDFA), commenced with an opening ceremony at the Public Ground in Wokha on January 13, 2025. The event was graced by Yanrenthung Humtsoe, Chairman of MSMEPCI, Wokha District, and Chief Advisor of WDCCI, as the special guest.
This year, 14 teams have registered to participate in the tournament. A new feature of this edition is the allowance for teams to field three guest players per match, enabling talented players from outside the district to compete alongside local footballers.
In his speech, Yanrenthung Humtsoe emphasized the importance of discipline and dedication in sports. He highlighted that discipline begins with small actions and urged participants to uphold discipline, integrity, and perseverance throughout the tournament. He also stressed that success in sports requires not only skill but also hard work and dedication, encouraging players to make the championship a testament to their efforts.
Humtsoe also noted the current lack of a parent sports association in the district. He stated that efforts are underway to revive the Wokha District Sports Association (WDSA) through proper consultation with other sports organizations in the region.
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The opening match saw an exciting encounter between Nitsüyan and XI Brother Chukitong, ending in a 2-2 draw.
In the second match of the tournament played between Mount Morashen Club (MMC) Vs. Lower Senjum (LS), the former defeated LS by five goals to one. Earlier LS managed to scored their lone goal through Chichanthung in the 35th minutes ending the first half 1-0, yet the MMC came back strong after the first half scoring five goals through Thejasetuo scoring hat trick (45, 57 and 70+ minutes), with Mhao Odyuo and Cheneren scoring a goal each (44 & 68 minutes) respectively.
The tournament winner will receive a cash prize of ₹1,50,000, while the runner-up will take home ₹1,00,000. The semi-finalist teams will each be awarded ₹25,000. Additionally, five individual awards will be presented to recognize outstanding players.
