Football lovers and fans of Bhaichung Bhutia had crowded the gallery of
Kohima Local Ground yesterday to witness the exhibition match between
United Sikkim Football Club and Life Sports Football Club, presented by
YouthNet and organized by the Synergy Group. In the match the
United Sikkim FC won the match by 2-0 against Life Sports FC with the
first goal scored by Shansha Ansari in the 12th minute and the second
goal by M D Lepcha in the 68th minute respectively. The Life
Sports FC boys failed to score a goal despite several attempts made by
them including missing a penalty. However, Haolengou Kipgen of Life
Sports was declared Man of the Match in the exhibition match. The match
also featured Renedy Singh, who is the Vice Captain of the Indian
National Football Team. Earlier, declaring the match open, MLA and
Chairman Nagaland Village and Khadi Industry Board Nicky Kire thanked
the Sikkim United FC for coming and said it is not only the exhibition
match but further invited them to come and participate in other
tournaments organized in the state in the near future. The MLA
also lauded the organizers for taking the initiative to hold the
exhibition match. The Director General of Police of Nagaland K Kire was
among those present. The initiative of social networking site
Facebook groups - The Naga Blog and Nagaland Open Online Barter or Sell
(NOOBS), to garner funds towards Sikkim Earthquake Relief generated a
huge response in a short span of time. Contributions nearly a thousand
individuals, including some groups, poured in at designated points in
Kohima, Dimapur, Wokha and Mokokchung. Donations were also wired through
banks from Nagas outside the State. The fund drive which began on
September 26 and ended on September 30 managed to generate an
impressive amount of Rs 1,59,455. The people behind the fund drive said
donations came from individuals, schools, offices, groups and even a
football club with touching messages on paper and envelopes for victims
of the devastating Sikkim earthquake which claimed many lives, injured
scores of people and rendered hundreds homeless. The Cheque of the
relief fund and messages from contributors were handed over to soccer
star Bhaichung Bhutia and P Renedy Singh.