XI Brothers Chukitong lifted the 13th Lotha Football Championship trophy, organised by Wokha District Football Association, in Wokha. In the finals, played at the Public Ground on Wednesday, the champions downed Friends Club Wokha Village in an impressive 5-1 victory.

XI Brothers Chukitong’s dominant performance and strategic goal-scoring throughout the tournament ultimately led to the well-deserved victory in the final. They capitalized on opportunities effectively, showcasing a commendable level of skill.

Secretary, Department of Youth Resource & Sports, Anthony Ngullie graced the closing ceremony as the Special Guest. In his speech, Ngullie regretted the violence witnessed on 27th January 2024 but praised the positive gestures initiated by both the teams while underscoring the importance of sportsmanship.

Nyiro Range Sports Association and Englan Range Sports Association were suspended for a year by WDFA after their supporters engaged in pelting stones. On 29th January, the teams and their managements exchanged flowers to show their respects for the game.

Read more: Lotha Football Championship 2024: Teams suspended by WDFA exchange flowers

Emphasizing Wokha’s untapped sports potential, the Secretary of DYRS urged communities to back players. He asserted that the department is making efforts to introduce the State Sports Policy, assuring that it will provide job opportunities and reserved benefits for individuals who excel in the field of sports. Encouragingly, he urged players to exert more effort, seize the offered benefits, and continuously strive for improvement in their sporting endeavours.

Furthermore, Anthony Ngullie called for a spirit of enthusiasm on the field, placing emphasis on fair play while strongly discouraging any form of violence.

Acknowledging the drawback of the poor football ground quality, he assured that both the Wokha District Football Association and the Department would convene a meeting to actively address and resolve the issue.

Kethosituo Sekhose, Director, Department of Youth Resource & Sports, was also present to witness the final match of the 13th Lotha Football Championship.

In the individual awards category, the following accolades were presented:

Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Jonjibemo Lapon of Titans XI

Best Defender: Saronbemo Z. Shitiri of XI Brothers Chukitong

Best Midfielder: Renjamo Ngullie of Friends Club

Highest Scorer: Mhonthung Ngullie of XI Brothers Chukitong

Player of the Tournament: Zuben Kikon of Friends Club