6th Mokokchung Inter Ward Football Tournament 2025
Dilong Ward was crowned the new champion of the Mokokchung Inter Ward Football Tournament after defeating Sangtemla Ward 2-0 on Saturday at Imkongmeren Sports Complex, Mokokchung, in front of a cheering capacity crowd. The winning goals were scored by Takotuba and Temsutoshi, helping their team etch their name into the history of the district’s biggest emerging football tournament.
Playing in their white outfit, the 2023 champions looked dangerous in the first half and threatened to breach the Dilong backline on multiple occasions. The closest they came was in the 20th minute when they were awarded a penalty. However, Meyasenba squandered the opportunity, sending his spot-kick wide. Sangtemla once again nearly made the breakthrough in the 30th minute but did no more harm than rattling the woodwork. The first half ended with neither side opening the account.
Dilong Ward, at one stage of the game, looked like they were doomed to repeat their 2022 fate, when eventual champions Mongsenbai hammered them 4-1 in the final.
A tactical double substitution by coach Bendangsunep at the start of the second half paid dividends for Dilong Ward — a move that proved why he was later awarded the Best Coach accolade during the post-match presentation ceremony. Dilong looked recharged after the break and became more clinical.
Dilong Ward finally broke the deadlock in the 76th minute when their most potent striker, Takotuba, scored the first goal of the match. Temsutoshi sealed the win for Dilong in stoppage time (90+2), converting a corner kick delivered by Takotuba to secure a historic 2-0 victory.
Sangtemla Ward came agonizingly close to lifting the trophy for the second time but fell just short in the final hurdle. With this win, Dilong Ward became the fifth different team to claim the title in the tournament’s six-year history.
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The 6th Mokokchung Inter Ward Football Tournament was arguably the most competitive edition yet and one of the most successful in terms of crowd turnout. The tournament featured 13 of the 18 wards under Mokokchung town. The defending champions were eliminated in the group stage, while three of the seven knockout matches were decided via tiebreakers.
However, the condition of the playground was a major letdown, despite the players displaying commendable sportsmanship. The long-standing issue of the poor playing surface at Imkongmeren Sports Complex resurfaced during the final, as strong winds whipped up clouds of dust, making it difficult for spectators to see the players clearly in the second half.
The tournament was organized by the Marepkong Youth Association under the theme ‘Rise as One’. Imkongchuba, Chairman of the Mokokchung Municipal Council, graced the closing ceremony as the guest of honor.
The champions, Dilong Ward, were awarded a trophy, certificates, and a cash prize of Rs 50,000. Runners-up Sangtemla Ward received Rs 30,000 along with certificates. Six individual accolades, each carrying a cash prize of Rs 2,000 and a citation, were also presented.
Individual awards:
· Best Disciplined Team: Kumlong
· Best Coach: Bendangsunep (Dilong )
· Emerging Player: Longkham (Sungkomen)
· Highest Scorer: Tarepnungsang – 6 goals (Sungkomen)
· Best Goalkeeper: Imtisashi (Dilong )
· Best Defender: Moachang (Dilong )
· Player of the Tournament: Nungshisashi (Sangtemla)
