Born out of 10–12 boys pooling money for a football, SPL has grown into a full-fledged 11-a-side league
What began as a casual evening game among 10 to 12 football fans in Sungkomen Ward has now grown into one of Mokokchung’s most organized local football initiatives – the Sungkomen Premier League (SPL).
The idea took shape when the boys created a WhatsApp group and later in 2019 decided to formalize their games under the name Sungkomen Premier League (SPL). Today, the league has over 100 members and is currently managed by five core members – Joythy Pongener, Chubasanen Kichu, Sumit Tamang, Satipong Longkumer, and Tongpangkumba Kichu.
According to SPL co-founder Sumit Tamang, their first structured tournament was a futsal league in 2021, featuring five teams from Sungkomen Ward. There was no prize money, and the boys pooled resources just to buy a football. “There was no age barrier – kids as young as 12 or 13 also played,” he recalled.
Soon after, SPL began collaborating with the Sungkomen Baptist Church (SBC) to organize more tournaments. However, the group eventually shifted focus to a bigger vision: transitioning from 5-a-side futsal to 11-a-side football. Matches were then held on larger grounds such as the FAC Ground and Public Ground, Mokokchung.
The milestone came in 2025, when SPL launched its first-ever 11-a-side football league on July 5, featuring four teams from Sungkomen Ward. Players now range from 13 to 36 years old, with teams coached by individuals with prior coaching experience.
Explaining the reason for the shift, Sumit said, “Before SPL, the ward was struggling to find football players to play in the Inter-Ward Football Tournament. So, the SPL decided to take the boys to the tournament. With SPL, many more players started coming forward. In 2024-25, we participated and around 40 boys turned up for the tournament. That shows the positive impact SPL has had.”
Community support, he added, has been crucial: “The support has been very good. Colony members and football lovers came forward to help, donating footballs, training kits, and even sponsoring jerseys.”
Speaking about its influence on youngsters, Sumit observed: “To be honest, the boys are young and some of them lack the discipline they need. But gradually, we can see a change in their behavior. Many young players are coming forward, expressing interest.”
When asked about whether they will participate in the upcoming MDFA Trophy in October, Sumit said, “We are still a very young team so we will not participate this year but we plan to participate next year.”
However, players like Tarepnungsang and Medemmar from SPL have represented Mokokchung in the recently concluded Dr T Ao Trophy.
The Sungkomen Premier League is being played every Saturday at 1:00 PM at Public Ground, Mokokchung. The SPL has four teams inspired by English Premier League clubs – NST United, Ansükong City, Tzülisea, and Forest De Madrid. The ongoing league has only three Saturdays left. Following the round kick-off, the top two teams will play the Qualifier, while the bottom two will contest the Eliminator.
The Eliminator round will be played between NST United and Tzülisea, while the Qualifier will see Forest De Madrid face Ansükong City.
The winners will eventually clash for the SPL title, a fitting finale for a league that has come a long way from its humble beginnings. However, the trophy still does not have a prize money.
The good news is, with local entrepreneurs and supporters stepping up to financially sponsor them, SPL’s journey looks set to grow stronger in the coming years.
