Dr T Ao Trophy opened with encouraging theme

Our Bureau

KOHIMA, January 20, 2020: The Northeast Dr T Ao trophy with the theme "Together we can soar" started at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima Monday. 

Governor RN Ravi while gracing the inaugural function said Dr T Ao was a legendary figure, beginning his life from a very humble and remote village with a passion for football and other sports. Dr T Ao played football wherever he went and won the hearts of the people. He excelled not only in football but also in academics. 

The Governor stated that the north-east region with varying cultures and identities lived as one family- in peaceful co-existence and happy symbiotic relation, until the post colonial politics of fragmentation began. There was no record of major clash among the people except for a few tensions over resources. 

He said this political fragmentation has created the divide where the concept of 'us and they' has become more prominent.

Paying tribute to those who have conceived the idea of this trophy for the entire North-East region bringing the sportsmen from this region together, he said "The players don't discriminate, for each of the players the other person is just a fellow player. It's a competition where the winner is not a victor and the loser is not who suffer defeat. The win is accepted with humility and the lost with grace."

 Advisor, YR&S, Er Zale Neikha gave the welcome address. Harmonic Voice presented a special song while State Chaplain, Rev Kuzierang Thou invoked God's blessings for the Tournament. All the eight states in northeast are competing in the eight-day football tournament.