Coaching camps and baby league planned for young talents.
The 35+ Mokokchung Football League (MFL) is set to make its comeback with the launch of its sixth season on April 12, 2025, featuring the same six teams.
The six teams are Revenant FC, Terokroker FC, Trebuchet FC, Nova Sporting Club, New Ecclesia and Wasang FC. This was announced at a press conference held at Urban Hub Café, Mokokchung on Thursday, April 10.
This season also marks a leadership change, with Aongsen Aier taking over as the Convenor of MFL, while Imcharen has been appointed as Secretary and Coordinator. The upcoming season will see a major expansion, increasing from 20 matchdays with 60 matches to 25 matchdays with 75 matches. Matches will be held every Saturday from 12:00 noon to 5:00 PM at the Imkongmeren Sports Complex.
A new feature this season will be the introduction of the “Player of the Match” award for every game, sponsored by Sentiyanger, informed Dr Lanu, a senior member of the MFL.
Looking beyond the league, the organizers also announced plans to organize a coaching clinic or camp for grassroots players, targeting the Under-10 and Under-12 categories. “We are planning to bring in a renowned national-level coach for the camp,” they stated.
The members urged parents and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to extend their support to the initiative, stating, “If the response is good, we are thinking of starting a Baby League.”
According to the team, the MFL over the past five seasons has made a significant impact on Mokokchung. “We’ve seen a lot of changes in terms of unhealthy lifestyles like drinking, and at the same time, it helped us improve in fitness,” they said.
Highlighting its contribution to football in the district, Dr Lanu added, “MFL players also represented the veteran team at the state level. So, as long as MFL exists, Mokokchung’s veteran scene is safe.”
MFL was started when a group of like-minded individuals, sitting over a cup of tea, came up with the idea to create a stress-relieving activity. The league revolves around the principles of the ‘3Fs’ — Friendship, Fellowship, and Fitness.
According to the organizers, these efforts are part of a broader push to revive football in Mokokchung. “We had so many players from Mokokchung back then, but recently, very few players from our district are representing the state,” they noted.