Secures 15-year sponsorship from Advisor H Tovihoto Ayemi’s family
DIMAPUR, AUG 27 (NPN): The Dimapur District Football Association (DDFA) is set to revive the Dimapur District Football Association League with the inaugural DDFA League-cum-Late Hejeto Aye Memorial Trophy scheduled from September 15 to October 5.
Announcing the league at a press conference on Wednesday, DDFA president Mughato Aye said the league was being revived after a gap of several years, with the last edition held around 2021.
He said the DDFA intends to make the league an annual event following a 15-year sponsorship commitment from the family of Advisor H Tovihoto Ayemi in memory of his late father, Hejeto Aye.
Mughato said the DDFA had been in discussions with the family since December and that an MoU had now been reached, with the formal signing expected to take place soon.
Expressing gratitude to the Ayemi family, he said the long-term sponsorship would provide much-needed stability to the local football fraternity and help restore Dimapur’s position as one of Nagaland’s football strongholds.
He recalled that Dimapur had historically been a powerhouse of football in the state, producing a large number of players who went on to represent Nagaland at various levels of competition. However, he said the district had witnessed a decline in recent years, partly due to inadequate sporting infrastructure.
Aye particularly highlighted the absence of an artificial football turf in Dimapur, saying the DDFA had waited for several years after the state government announced plans to establish artificial turfs in all districts.
“Kohima was the first to get one. After that, the whole sports fraternity expected Dimapur to be the second, but for some reason, we have not received it yet,” he said.
He said the condition of the DDSC Stadium was a major concern, adding that the lack of a proper playing surface made regular training difficult, particularly during the rainy season.
He appealed to the state government and civil society organisations to push for an artificial turf in Dimapur, stressing that better infrastructure was essential to nurture the district’s football talent.
On the proposed Multi-Disciplinary Sports Complex and its transfer to the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Mughato expressed concern over accessibility for the local population. While acknowledging that SAI could provide quality infrastructure, he said public access could potentially be restricted.
He added that Dimapur could not afford to wait indefinitely for the complex to become operational and needed an alternative facility to continue developing local football talent.
On the prize money, he said the detailed structure would be announced before the commencement of the league. He informed that the top four teams would advance to a championship phase, with prize money to be awarded in both categories.
Briefing on Late Hejeto Aye, after whom the trophy has been named, Mughato said he was a pioneer of Dimapur who settled in the area in 1951 and served as a village head (GB). He said Hejeto Aye played a significant role in the development of Dimapur during the 1950s and 1960s.
Meanwhile, DDFA general secretary Lanutoshi Yaden said the tournament would feature eight teams this year on a first-come, first-served basis due to the limited preparation time. Two matches would be played each day.