The Angami Students Union (ASU) announced today that the 24th edition of the prestigious NSF Martyrs Memorial Trophy will be held from September 14 to October 5 due to a scheduling conflict with the Dr T Ao Trophy.
This announcement was made during a press conference at the ASU office in Kohima on July 29. The Angami Students’ Union had earlier announced that the 24th edition of the NSF Martyrs’ Memorial Trophy would be held at IG Stadium, Kohima from 7 to 28 September.
Organizing committee convenor Visokho Zashumo, addressing the press conference in Kohima, stated that the prestigious tournament has been postponed to September 14 due to the clash with the inter-district tournament.
For the convenience of the players and fans, the tournament has been rescheduled to start a week later, concluding on October 5. He said the organizing committee expects around 30 to 40 teams to participate in the tournament and has also invited colleges to join.
The prize money for the 24th edition of the NSF Martyrs Memorial Trophy has been increased in preparation for the 25th edition. Medals and certificates will be awarded to the champions and runners-up, along with trophies for individual awards (best midfielder, defender, custodian, and top scorer).
The prizes are as follows:
Champion: Rs. 3,00,000
Runners-up: Rs. 1,80,000
Semifinalists: Rs. 40,000 each
Quarterfinalists: Rs. 25,000 each
Individual awards: Rs. 10,000 each
Player of the Tournament: Rs. 50,000
Total Prize Money: Rs. 7,50,000
Forms will be available from August 1 at the following locations in Kohima: ASU office, Sports Paradise (Kezieke), Sports World (main town), Royal Enfield (High School), Falcon Corner (Medziphema), G Sports (Chümoukedima), and Kiran Sports & Stationeries (Dimapur). For more information, one can contact 7005740944 or 9378124876. The last date for form submission is September 7.
The month-long tournament is organized in honor of the two comrades, Late Kekuojalie Sachü of Kohima Village and Late Vikhozo Yhoshü of Kigwema Village, who were victims of the indiscriminate firing by the Nagaland Armed Police from Alichen on March 20, 1986. This occurred during a peaceful rally called by the Naga Students’ Federation to protest against the State Government’s decision on the extension of the Disturbed Area Belt from 5 KM to 20 KM along the Indo-Myanmar border and the induction of Indian Police Service (IPS) cadre into the state of Nagaland.