The North East Zone Inter University (Men’s) Football Tournament, which kicked off on November 11, 2024 at Nagaland University (Headquarters Lumami), culminated on Friday with National Sports University (NSU) of Manipur claiming the coveted championship title.
The thrilling competition saw Nagaland University (NU) secure second place, while Dibrugarh University finished third. Dhanamanjuri University (Manipur), placed in fourth place, completed the list of top four teams.
According to a press release from NU PRO Peter Ki, 14 University teams from the eight northeastern states played in the knockout round to determine the four best teams. Then, these four teams played league matches to determine their rankings.
In the individual awards, the best goalkeeper was Rankathung of Nagaland University, the best striker was Jetlee from National Sports University, and Tapas Saikia of Dibrugarh University was declared the player of the tournament.
The closing ceremony, held after the final match, celebrated the outstanding performances of the teams and marked the end of an exhilarating week of football action.
The Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung, Thsuvisie Phoji, who was the special guest at the ceremony, expressed heartfelt appreciation to Nagaland University for hosting the tournament, acknowledging the hard work and dedication of the teams. He praised the competitive spirit displayed by the participating universities.
Phoji also emphasized the importance of such tournaments in showcasing the immense sporting talent of the Northeast, particularly in football, and noted the region’s historical success in producing athletes who have excelled on the national and international stage.
Phoji also highlighted the role of sports in fostering unity and peace in the region, especially amidst ongoing conflicts and challenges. He urged the athletes to carry forward the message of harmony, solidarity, and sportsmanship, becoming ambassadors of peace and role models for others.
Chief guest, Vice Chancellor, Nagaland University, Prof. Jagadish K. Patnaik, expressed appreciation to the sports section for successfully organizing the tournament in the University and said, “Sport is the only binding force, where all the Northeastern states come together and share a common goal of excellence”.
Patnaik went on to narrate how despite the lack of infrastructure and inadequate training, players from Northeast have been persistent and made notable contributions in the field of sports.
Patnaik said Nagaland University would be glad to host the Women’s Football Tournament next year, if possible. He concluded with optimism that the university’s sports infrastructure will be improved to cater to the sports need of the students.
The Organizing Secretary of the tournament, DDS Nagaland University Dr. Harish Kumar Tiwari, also took the stage, offering gratitude to all those who contributed to the event’s smooth execution, particularly the Vice Chancellor for his leadership and unwavering support. He announcing that the top four teams will now represent the North East Zone in the upcoming All India Inter-Zonal Tournament at GNA University in Phagwara, Punjab, which will be held from December 27, 2024 to 5th January 2024.
The closing ceremony chaired by Asst. Professor, Dept of EVS, Nagaland University, Dr. Ashutosh Tripathi, ended with a vote of thanks by football coach, Nagaland University, Watimenba Longchar. The technical officials during the tournament were all from the Mokokchung District Football Referee Board.
The tournament was organized under the auspices of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), New Delhi. Hosting this North East Zone Inter University Men’s Football Tournament for the first time was a major milestone for Nagaland University and for the state of Nagaland.
The team manager was assistant director of Sports, Nagaland University, Mesanguto Meru, while the team coach was Watimenba Longchar.