Marquee Player: Tingyek Konyak

DoB: 23 March, 1993
Position: CAM
District: Mon

About Him:
Tingyek Konyak is the youngest among his five siblings who started his footballing career at an early age of 14. His father being a footballer, he fell in love with football from his early childhood days and then during his days as a student in Greenwood School, he was selected to represent Nagaland U-14 team in Subroto Mukherjee Cup in New Delhi by state football coach, Mughato Aye.

Represented Nagaland in:
U-14 team in Subroto Mukerjee Cup, New Delhi 2007
U-16 in the year 2007 (Nationals, Punjab)
U-17 Subroto Mukerjee Cup, New Delhi
Santosh Trophy in Kerala
Dr. T. Ao North East at Mizoram
North-East Games twice in Imphal; Champion in the year 2016

Clubs
Played for Rangdajied (Shillong) for Shillong Premier League in 2016
Played for Naga Tornadoes in 1st Nagaland Premier League
Kohima Komets for 2nd Nagaland Premier League
Barak FC

MTimes: Hi Ating, what has been your experience like in this tournament so far? Do you have a favorite team apart from your own?
Tingyek: So far, my experience has been excellent. It’s good to see Naga footballers coming up and the competition level is much much higher than the previous years. As of now, I don’t have any other favorite teams other than my own Mon.

MTimes: How confident are you with the team for the semifinals?
Tingyek: With today’s win, I’m quite confident that we will go through to the semifinal. The team spirit and the fighting spirit was phenomenal.

MTimes: Which has been the best game you’ve played so far?
Tingyek: The best game so far was against Kiphire and Phek

MTimes: As the captain of the team, do you sometimes feel pressured to lead the team to victory?
Tingyek: Yes, I do but I have been through the same in many other tournaments and I’m quite used to it. So it’s not a problem for me now.

MTimes: What would winning this trophy mean to you?
Tingyek: I have won many local tournaments out here in Nagaland and to win this coveted Dr. T. Ao trophy would mean everything to me. We are giving everything we have to bring the Trophy home for the entire Konyaks.

MTimes: Do you agree that Nagaland’s football has improved?
Tingyek: To me Nagaland’s football has improved just a bit and to see the players in the likes of Kivi Zhimomi, James Kithan, Neithovilie, Lironthung (just to name a few) playing outside of state is a huge motivation and encouragement for the younger players.

MTimes: What would you wish Nagaland would do to improve football?
Tingyek: To improve Nagaland Football we have to start from the beginning with more emphasis on Grassroots football, proper infrastructure, investment and to have our own State Football League.