In a match befitting the finals, Telongjem FC defeated Moanungsang Memorial Sporting Club (MMSC) 2-1 at the latter’s home ground to lift the coveted Mokokchung District Football Association (MDFA) Trophy 2022 on Wednesday.
The match started off hot as the teams got into a scuffle in the field following a yellow card being awarded to MMSC’s Nungshisashi in the 5th minute for rough play. MMSC’s goalie Imsutoshi was also penalised with a yellow in the 15th minute of the game for handling the ball outside the box.
Defending champion Telongjem’s box to box player Pursunep, who had previously played for Dimapur District in the Dr T Ao Trophy 2022, took advantage of the distracted goalie and scored a goal in the 18th minute.
Following that, MMSC attempted to equalise the score multiple times but in vain until the 45th minute when Jongshiwati swiftly navigated past three Telongjem defenders to score a goal for his team.
Telongjem FC vs MMSC at the MDFA Trophy 2022 finals.
In the second half of the thrilling final match at the Imkongmeren Sports Complex, Mokokchung, the teams gave each other a tough competition.
Telongjem’s coach Tiakumzuk strategically substituted their top goal scorer Yhunshalo Kemp for Bapen Yimjong, who had captained the winning U17 Nagaland Team in the Subroto Cup in New Delhi.
Yimjong’s abilities and form came into display when in the 74th minute of the game, he converted a freekick into the championship winning goal.
Champions Telongjem FC were presented with citations and monetary award of Rs 2 lakh while Runner-Up Moanungsang Memorial Sporting Club were presented with citations and monetary award of Rs 1 lakh.
Individual awards were also handed out to the following players:
Yhunshalo Kemp from Telongjem FC was awarded Highest Goal Scorer.
Pursunep from Telongjem FC won Player of the Tournament.
Alemmongba from Longpa Lomuden FC won the award for the Best Defender.
Tiasunep from O C Y U won Best Goalkeeper.
17-year-old Merangtemjen from Youngsters Club won Most Promising Player award.
During a brief closing ceremony, Medo Yhoka, Advisor Technical Education and Elections, served as the chief match patron while Meyisanger Lemtur, President Mokokchung District Football Association gave the vote of thanks.
After the match, Nagaland Tribune spoke to Telongjem FC’s coach, Tiakumzuk, and Player of the Tournament Pursunep who both expressed their happiness over their team winning the MDFA Trophy 2022.
“The last MDFA was held in 2019 and owing to the pandemic the tournament was held after a gap of two years and winning for the consecutive years is a proud moment for us,” coach Tiakumzuk said.
He mentioned that the team consisted of players from other districts as well – Yhunshalo Kemp from Tseminyu, Pursunep, Kakhevi and Bapen Yimjong from Dimapur and Lanutoshi from Jorhat.
Telongjem FC.
According to the coach, the 15-member management committee strategically adopted various measures to have an organized team which in turn benefited the overall team.
Referring to football as “a public affair”, he said sports and entertainment go together. Football should be played for the public and by the public, Tiakumzuk said.
The defending champions of MDFA have also won the first edition of Nagaland State Futsal Championship and represented the state at the first edition of Hero Futsal Championship organized by the All India Football Federation in New Delhi, he said.
Tiakumzuk noted that the main the constraint faced by the team was the financial aspect and he spoke out his appreciation for all those who had financially and spiritually helped them.
The team will not give up on winning and will definitely try to pursue more trophies in the future, the coach of Telongjem FC said.
For 20-year-old Pursunep who hails from Dimapur, team effort from all the members is an important element. Every sportsman should have the quality of being a team player, he said and added: “Without the effort of each individual, it is impossible to reach the target that we set.”
Pursunep won Player of the Tournament at the MDFA Trophy 2022.
When asked what he would do if he saw one of his teammates struggling to learn a new move or to play, the Telongjem FC player replied that he would try to motivate and guide his teammate in every possible way to get along with the team and would also praise his efforts.
Being consistent in a game and trying to get along with the other teammates is the best advice he has received from his coaches, Pursunep said.
One important lesson that he has learned is that “things might not turn out the way I expected to be but it’s up to my will power and [being] enthusiastic about the goals I want to achieve to make it happen and try harder and work harder.”
He said he would like to encourage all the players irrespective of any field to work hard and enjoy the game in order to reach a fruitful achievement at the end.
