Tuensang picked up their first win of the Dr. T. Ao Inter-District Football Championship 2025 with a 3–0 victory against Zunheboto in Match 9 at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima, on Monday. The result was shaped by a hat-trick from Ayenmongba, who now joins Apeto of Niuland as the tournament’s joint top scorer with four goals.
The match began evenly, with Zunheboto showing good organization in the early exchanges. Tuensang broke the deadlock in the 36th minute when Ayenmongba scored with a header inside the box. He added a second just after the restart in the 46th minute and completed his hat-trick in the 69th, sealing all three points for the defending champions. Zunheboto, despite enjoying phases of possession, struggled to create clear scoring chances and failed to break through Tuensang’s disciplined defense.
No cards were issued in what was a fairly contested match.
Speaking to Mokokchung Times after the match, Nabum, manager of the Tuensang District Football Association, said, “Mainly we are focusing on teamwork. Individual brilliance will definitely come out. Everybody gave their best today… We are very fortunate to see the win. We still have to keep working on some of our weaknesses.”
Reflecting on the earlier draw with Mon, Nabum added, “Mon was a tougher game… they were the semi-finalists of last year’s trophy, but we could play at the same level, so we are happy.”
On Ayenmongba’s performance, he said, “As a manager, I am very happy for his performance.”
It may be noted that Nabum was also the manager of the Tuensang District team in last year’s tournament.
Speaking to Mokokchung Times after the match, Ayenmongba expressed his excitement at scoring a hat-trick, which included a stunning bicycle kick in the 46th minute.
“It was my first-ever bicycle kick… it was an unexpected goal,” said the 19-year-old forward. “I have been practicing for a long time and I was finally able to do it.”
Having played football since childhood, Ayenmongba represented Tuensang in the U-14 inter-district tournaments in Kohima in 2019, where his team finished second. He was also part of the Nagaland squad in the Santosh Trophy 2024.
Ayenmongba shared that he was once selected for the Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools, but had to let go of that opportunity due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I dropped out of school in 2019 and have been focusing entirely on football,” he said.
In 2023, he joined the Nagaland State Sports Hostel in Dimapur, where he trained for one and a half years. Since leaving the hostel, he has been preparing by himself for the ongoing DrT Ao Trophy.