Most Rev Dr James Thoppil, Bishop, Diocese of Kohima seen with Dikhri Wezah and others during the opening of Soccer Cafe on November 28. (Morung Photo)
Vishü Rita Krocha
Kohima | November 28
With a football made of used plastic bags strung together, Dikhri Wezah would head to the ground in Chizami village along with other boys after school. His love for football began as a young boy. He would consistently play the game and still does occasionally even today.
A ‘football player by heart’, ‘Soccer Café’ that was formally opened on Saturday afternoon by Most Rev Dr James Thoppil, Bishop, Diocese of Kohima, is a result of Wezah’s passion for the game.
Wezah, who studied M.Sc in Biotechnology from Kristu Jayanti College, Bangalore recalled going to sports cafes during weekends just to indulge in the world of football.
“We rarely have such kind of places here,” he remarked while adding that Soccer Café primarily focuses on three main things- joint live screening, healthy food and good coffee. Pointing out that everybody has become health conscious nowadays, he said every food item in the newly opened café is being customized in the best possible way to help in improving people’s lives while touching upon the aspect of freshly brewed organic coffee.
In providing this space, he hopes that young people can come together, talk about football, and just have a good time. “Customers who come here can make use of free Wi-Fi, a place for students to make use of or office goers to just come relax and chill out”, he added.
In his message, Most Rev Dr James Thoppil, Bishop, Diocese of Kohima congratulated Dikhri Wezah on the venture. He also expressed happiness to hear the bold objective of the café- ‘to connect people’. In Nagaland, he observed, “something it lacks is connection with relaxation.”
He also drew the connection of the passing of the football star, Maradona, and in this regard, commented that “soccer stars become part and parcel of people's lives.” He wished the Soccer Café the very best and hoped that “you move from one step to another.” In the meantime, he said that Nagaland Coffee has one of the best aromas, and has a lot of scope for Nagaland, further providing job opportunities and support for farmers as well.
Proprietor of D/Café, Dilli Khekho spoke about the ‘Coffee Culture in Nagaland’ wherein he observed that few people who initially liked to have instant coffee have moved to ‘real coffee’ after getting the real taste. Stating that coffee is one of the most popular secular drinks in the world, and second highest beverage next to tea, D/Café, which is in its fourth year, was initiated to create a space for our people to come and have quality time with friends and family. Initially, he observed most customers would quickly come and go, but are now quite relaxed and has transformed into this lovely place of connecting with each other.
Khrolhiwe-u Tsuhah (Awi), who hosted the event, also remarked that there have been changes and trends in the Coffee Culture in Nagaland. Soccer Café, she said, “will provide a space for people to come, connect, and relax.”
“Coffee triggers memories for all of us, and I hope that Soccer Café will be such a place,” she added.
