Dr T Ao Trophy

•    Tuensang crushes Shamator 6-0
•    Niuland defeats Zunheboto 2-1
•    Tseminyu stages comeback vs Meluri 2-1

Our Correspondent
Kohima | August 7 

Tuensang, Tseminyu and Niuland today registered wins in their respective matches at the ongoing Dr. T. Ao Trophy/24th Inter-District Football Championship 2025 at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima.

Tuensang- 6, Shamator- 0
Tuensang produced an attacking masterclass in match number 18, sweeping aside Shamator with a comprehensive 6-0 victory that underlined their status as one of the tournament’s most feared teams.

The highlight was yet another prolific display from Ayenmongba, who continued his blistering form to stay atop the golden boot standings.

It took Tuensang just 11 minutes to open the floodgates as Dongehanglen broke through the defensive line to fire the opener.

Barely ten minutes later, Bapen doubled the advantage with a composed finish that showcased Tuensang’s attacking depth.

Then came the Ayenmongba show—he struck a rapid-fire brace in the 30th and 31st minutes, effectively ending Shamator’s hopes before halftime. Namang added a fifth in the 42nd, and Ayenmongba completed his hat-trick in the 60th minute, sealing a dominant and unrelenting performance.

Tseminyu-3, Meluri- 1
Tseminyu defeated Meluri 3-1 in Match 19. Meluri struck first when Yithachu found the net in the 27th minute, briefly putting Tseminyu on the back foot.

However, Yhunshalo Kemp, captaining Tseminyu in his final match representing the district, equalized in the 40th minute with a composed finish.

He then doubled the advantage in the 52nd minute, underlining why he remains one of the region’s most respected forwards. Khiti Kath added a third goal in the 58th minute, ensuring Tseminyu closed out their tournament on a high.

Yhunshalo Kemp of team Tseminyu, played his final match representing the district in the Dr. T. Ao Trophy, officially retiring from district-level championships.

For this momentous occasion, he led his team as captain, marking his last appearance as the leader on the field.

Before kick-off, he was felicitated by Chenonlo Woch, Vice President of the Football Association Tseminyu District on behalf of its association, in recognition of his extraordinary service to district football.

After the match, Kemp was given an emotional guard of honor by his teammates, the opposition team Meluri, and also Team Niuland, who all gathered together to display a heartfelt gesture of respect and camaraderie.

The match also marked the final appearance for both Meluri and Tseminyu in this edition of Dr. T. Ao Trophy, drawing the curtain on an unforgettable chapter.

Niuland- 2, Zunheboto- 1
In a high-tempo encounter brimming with tension and physicality, Niuland secured a vital 2-1 victory over Zunheboto in Match 20.

Niuland asserted themselves early, while Zunheboto fought hard to find a way back, ultimately falling short despite a spirited second-half response.

Goal Scorers
Niuland took a commanding lead before the halftime whistle—Apeto broke the deadlock in the 29th minute of the first 35-minute half, and Kakhevi added a second goal right after the interval.

Zunheboto regrouped and pressed higher up the pitch, finally breaching the Niuland defense when Tohika slotted home a fine finish in the 61’ minute. Despite throwing players forward in search of an equalizer, Zunheboto could not find a way past the resolute Niuland backline.

AUGUST 8 MATCHES
Noklak Vs Longleng @ 9:00 AM
Mon Vs Zunheboto @ 11:00 AM
Dimapur Vs Chümoukedima @ 1:00 PM
Peren Vs Kohima @ 3:00 PM