The Dimapur District Football League-cum-Late Hejeto Ayemi Football Trophy was formally inaugurated at the DDSC Stadium, Dimapur, on September 15 marking the revival of district-level football competition in Dimapur after a long gap. The league would be held from September 15 to October 5, 2026.
The tournament is being organised by the Dimapur District Football Association (DDFA) in memory of Late Hejeto Ayemi, with the trophy instituted in his honour.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, H Tovihoto Ayemi, MLA and Advisor, Department of Tribal Affairs and Election, appreciated the DDFA for reviving district-level football and providing young footballers with opportunities to showcase their talent.
Tovihoto said the tournament held special significance for his family as it was instituted in memory of his late father, Hejeto Ayemi. He recalled that the DDFA had approached the family with a proposal to establish a district-level football tournament in his father’s memory, which the family viewed as a meaningful way to preserve his legacy while creating a platform for the youth of Dimapur.
Recalling his father’s contribution to society, Tovihoto said Hejeto Ayemi was neither a football player nor a bureaucrat or political figure, but a humble individual who believed in serving people and contributing to the development of society. He said his father was among those who helped lay the foundation of present-day Thahekhu and was also among the pioneers of Dimapur’s development.
He further highlighted his father’s commitment to education, stating that when educational opportunities were limited, he had started a night school and taught children free of cost. Education, he said, was regarded by his father as one of the most powerful means of transforming lives and building a better future.
Linking these values with the football tournament, Tovihoto said the event was more than a sporting competition, as it would provide young people with opportunities to compete, develop discipline, build friendships, gain confidence and discover their potential.
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He observed that football promotes teamwork, discipline, perseverance, leadership, humility and respect, while providing young people with a positive platform to channel their energy and ambition.
Tovihoto called upon parents, schools, educational institutions, business establishments, civil society organisations, community leaders and football lovers to support the DDFA initiative and create more opportunities for young athletes.
He stressed the need to develop a sustainable football ecosystem in the district through greater grassroots participation, quality coaching, talent identification and regular competitive opportunities. He said young footballers from Dimapur should be given opportunities to aspire to represent not only the district but also Nagaland and the country.
In a significant announcement, Tovihoto stated that the Ayemi family had committed to a 15-year sponsorship agreement to run the league annually from 2026. He said the tournament would serve as a permanent and reliable stepping stone for the youth of Nagaland over the next decade and a half.
Addressing the participating teams and players, he urged them to play with passion, discipline and respect and uphold the true spirit of sportsmanship. He said the success of the tournament should not be measured only by results, but also by the talent it discovers, opportunities it creates, discipline it instils and dreams it inspires.
He expressed hope that the tournament would grow from strength to strength and develop into a regular, respected and sustainable platform for football in Dimapur.
Concluding his address, Tovihoto said the memory of his late father should inspire people not merely to remember him but to carry forward the values he lived by, including compassion, service, education, faith and commitment to the wellbeing of society.
DDFA president Mughato Sumi, in his presidential address, highlighted the significance of the tournament in promoting football and nurturing sporting talent in the district.
The programme also featured a special melody by Vilika Zhimomi, followed by the oath-taking ceremony administered by Olando Yimchunger, Executive Member, DDFA.
The inaugural match was played between Dimapur Sporting Club and Thahekhu Youth Sporting Club, marking the beginning of the district-level league.
