In a thrilling final, Naga Football Club registered a 3-0 win over DGP XI to lift the Inaugural Capt Kenguruse Memorial Football Tournament at Kohima. The match was organised in remembrance of Maha Vir Chakra awardee captain Kenguruse who attained martyrdom during Operation Vijay in 2001.
The tournament was organised by Assam Rifles under the aegis of headquarters Inspector General Assam Rifles (North) in collaboration with the Nagaland Football Association and state authorities at Kohima. The tournament endeavored to provide a statewide participation, wherein all the districts in Nagaland were represented by two teams each. The two other participating teams were from IGAR (N) and DGP XI making it a total of 24 teams vying for the coveted trophy and cash prizes. The tournament also aimed at fusing the indomitable Naga spirit with the passion of youth for football so that the young sporting talent of the state could get an avenue to rise and shine.
Other than the magnificent silver trophy for the champions, the tournament had cash prizes totaling upto five lakhs. It was one of the biggest cash prize tournament organised in Nagaland in recent times. The champion team NFC, Kohima took away with them the winners cash prize of `1,90,000 apart from the coveted trophy while the runners up team was awarded a cash prize of `80,000. Each of the losing semi finalist were awarded `50,000. Individual prizes worth `2,00,000to worthy players was also given. Every team which took part in the tournament were given a memento and `5,000 each.