The 22nd edition of the Dr. T Ao Trophy in Mokokchung remains an emotional scar for Mon district football fans. That year, Mon faced a strong Dimapur side in the grand finale, only to see their dreams shattered with a 2–0 defeat. The loss was more than just a scoreline; it broke the heart of a district that had rallied passionately behind its team.
Among the warriors who fought that day for Mon were names still remembered with pride — Sanyem Konyak, Laiwang Konyak, and Tingyek Konyak. Two years later, the torch has passed in a new way. In 2025, only Sanyem and Laiwang remain on the playing roster, while Tingyek Konyak, a veteran of Mon football, now leads the side from the sidelines as head coach.
Having retired after the 23rd edition in Tuensang, Tingyek now chases the trophy from the technical area, determined to win what slipped through his fingers as a player.
Three of Dimapur’s 2022 champions — star players like Toka Achumi, Homuka Yeptho, and Kakhevi Assumi — now wear Niuland colours, bringing with them the experience of lifting the trophy. Only Vinoka has been retained from Niuland’s earlier squad, making this a team rebuilt with ambition and pedigree.
As the two sides prepare to meet again, it’s more than just another fixture. For Mon, it’s a shot at rewriting history. For Niuland, it’s about proving that champion bloodlines can deliver once again — this time under a different district banner.
And for those who still remember Mokokchung 2022 heart break, this is a chapter waiting to be rewritten for the Mon team again. (With SportsLIVE Nagaland inputs)
MT adds:
This is the first time Niuland has reached a Dr T Ao Trophy final, although some of its key players were part of the team that famously lifted the trophy in 2022 in Mokokchung. For Mon, it is their second appearance in the final in three years. In the 2024 edition, Mon suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Peren in the second semifinal. They led 1-0 at half-time, but Peren equalized in the second half and scored the winner in stoppage time.
According to reports, 10 of Niuland’s starting 11 are products of the State Football Academy Dimapur, compared to only two in the Mon side. However, Mon has already defeated Niuland 2-1 earlier in the tournament in a fiery Group A clash, a match widely described as one of the tournament’s defining encounters.