Dimapur closes horns with Mon in Dr T Ao final today

Kohima: The ongoing Dr T Ao Inter district tournament, which is expected to conclude on Friday, will witness the final match between the Dimapur District Football Association (DDFA) and Mon District Football Association (MDFA) at the Imkongmeren sports complex in Mokokchung.

The 22nd edition of the Inter-District Football Championship will see a friendly rivalry between former academy colleagues Tingnyek (Ating) Konyak and Kivi Zhimomi in today’s final game.

Both players wear the captain’s armbands for Mon and Dimapur. The duo has been playing together since their academy days in Dimapur. Konyak and Zhimomi also formed the most famous midfield partnership in their prime.

Asked about leading the team, Mon captain Ating Konyak said: “With the kind of performance during the tournament, I have full confidence in my team. If we keep the consistency and put in a little more effort, hopefully we can win the title.”

He said that all the players of his team have shown their skills and abilities in all matches and hope to give their best in the last match as well.

Kivi Zhimomi, former Northeast United player and now Gokulam FC player, said in an interaction that he is very excited for the final game and hopes for a good show from his team. He assured that his team will do everything they can to fight to the end.

So far, Dimapur has scored eight goals in five matches with Kakhevi Assumi, who became the team’s top scorer with three goals. They have yet to concede a goal in the tournament. Dimapur defeated players like Niuland and Peren in the quarter-finals and semi-finals to enter the final of the tournament.