Advisor Sangtam kicks off the 13th annual sports meet of the Urra Area Villages’ Youth Organisation (UAVYO) at Kiyeto Village Local Ground in Chümoukedima on September 29. (Photo Courtesy: Vebuto Rhakho)
Advisor Sethrongkyu Sangtam urges youth to refine natural talents
Morung Express News
Kiyeto | September 29
The 13th annual sports meet of the Urra Area Villages’ Youth Organisation (UAVYO) commenced at the Kiyeto Village Local Ground here on Tuesday, with a strong call to the youth to refine their natural talents and foster community harmony.
The tournament is being held under the theme, “Strength in diversity & sports. Beyond difference, beyond limits.”
Inaugurating the event as the special guest, Sethrongkyu Sangtam, MLA and Advisor for Information Technology & Communication, Economics & Statistical Evaluation, said that God has naturally blessed the Naga people in various fields such as sports, music, and art.
However, he stressed that these God-gifted blessings are meaningless if the youth do not know how to use and refine their talents and potential.
He encouraged the players to nurture and hone their skills to aim for bigger and brighter platforms, which he said would ultimately bring laurels to the state of Nagaland.
Referring to the tournament’s theme, Sangtam noted that the youth can set a good example for the rest of the community in striving for unity and harmony. He emphasized that sports is not merely about participation or winning, but about the spirit of friendship, oneness, and sportsmanship, which helps remove differences between teams. The Advisor further maintained that the state government is actively pushing the youth sector across sports, arts, and music, and urged the younger generation to avail themselves of the various schemes provided by the government.
He added that the friendship and oneness cultivated during the event should remain a guiding principle for unity even after the tournament wraps up.
Delivering his presidential address, UAVYO President Visü Sakhrie thanked the sponsors for their contributions and support, stating that the organisation is creating an environment for the youth to showcase their talents and thrive.
Calling upon the participants to embody the event’s theme, Sakhrie said, “It is not just about winning, it is about coming together and celebrating unity as one.”
Reflecting on past events, Sakhrie recalled a previous cultural day programme which, according to officials, failed to bring much progress or contribution from most of the federating units. He stated that this failure should serve as a lesson for everyone to bring about a positive change in preserving, showcasing, and displaying cultural unity.
Extending his greetings, Benjamin Sema, Head GB of Kiyeto Village, said it was an honour to host the units in the village. He stated that despite being small, the village council and the entire village have wholeheartedly prepared for the tournament. Sema expressed thrill at witnessing the growth and unity of the Urra area as a whole, adding that it could serve as one of the best models for community growth. He lauded the Urra Area Parent Body and the UAVYO for leading the youth in the right direction.
He emphasized that the main objective of the Urra area is to provide a platform for the youth to nurture their talents and maintain a spirit of brotherhood and oneness despite differences in culture, tradition, and religion.
Day 1 Sports Results:
In the opening match of the men’s football tournament, host Kiyeto Youth Club held defending champions Bade Youth Organisation to a scoreless draw. In the second match, Tsithrongse defeated their opponents Singrijan 2-0.
In the men’s volleyball tournament, highly competitive matches marked the opening day:
• Tsithrongse defeated Diezephe 3-2 in a best-of-five thriller.
• Singrijan edged past Seluophe 3-2 in another close encounter.
• Razaphe Basa registered a dominant 3-1 victory over Bade.
• Host Kiyeto defeated Sangtamtila 3-1 to close out the day’s volleyball fixtures.
