Match between Hoito FC (Red) and KGSA (Blue) at Suhoi Village on Monday.
Dimapur, September 6 (MExN): Ginoka Chophi Open Football Tournament kicked off at Suhoi Village football ground on September 6.
The tournament aimed at encouraging talented youngsters in the field of football was declared open by Khehovi V Chophi, President, Dimapur District GBs Association, stated a press release received here.
An avid sportsperson himself, Ginoka is qualified in sports management and was playing club football in Kolkata before the pandemic struck and brought everything to a grinding halt. Presently rendering his services to the sports fraternity as assistant general secretary of Dimapur District Football Association, Ginoka felt it is vital to provide enough opportunity for the youngsters to hone their talent and the ensuing tournament is an effort to draw the young talents towards sports.
Speaking on the occasion, Khehovi Chophi said more efforts needed to be put in the grassroot level to develop games and sports and urged leaders alike to enthuse the youngsters by providing a platform.
Mughato Aye, Nagaland State football coach and president, Dimapur District Football Association who also attended the inaugural function appreciated Ginoka for taking personal interest for the development of football in the region. He was hopeful that the event will go a long way in helping football grow.
20 teams from Dimapur district are participating in the tournament that carries Rs. 80,000 cash prize besides individual prizes.
Inaugural match played between KGSA team and Hoito FC was a high scoring one as the game ended in a 4-4 draw. Going into tiebreaker, Hoito notched up the opening encounter 3-2.
KGSA took the lead early into the match and extended the lead 3-1 at one point of time but Hoito boys remained resilient and kept coming back and heroic effort of Tovi who scored a hat-trick turned the score card 4-3 in favour of Hoito in the last quarter of the match. Some neat passes from KGSA found the equaliser and the match eventually went to tiebreaker.
