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10/11/2008: "Unification game revives Naga ‘hope’ - Rival outfits trade guns for football and play as a team for a day at historic ‘reconciliation’ match in Kohima OUR BUREAU The Telegraph"

Unification game revives Naga ‘hope’ - Rival outfits trade guns for football and play as a team for a day at historic ‘reconciliation’ match in Kohima OUR BUREAU The Telegraph


Players of both the teams pose for a photograph before the match in Kohima on Thursday. Picture by N.B. Sagar
Kohima, Oct. 10: The men who are used to chasing each other with guns, exchanged friendly pats and passes at the historic Naga “reconciliation” football match yesterday afternoon.
The teams were called Faith and Hope and though Faith won, it’s Hope which is burning bright.
Rivals NSCN (Isak-Muivah), NSCN (Khaplang) and NNC cadres teamed up as “Hope” to take on team Faith comprising members of the Naga Hoho, Nagaland Baptist Church Council, Nagaland Christian Forum, Forum for Naga Reconciliation, Naga Students’ Federation, Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights and Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation.
Team Faith won 3-1 but everybody present at the Khouchiezie ground at Kohima could at last “hope” for the long-awaited reconciliation.
To facilitate the match, a ceasefire was enforced between the warring factions since yesterday. The Naga outfits also pledged to work for peace and reconciliation before the match.
“This is a historic moment. Not only for the groups but for all the Naga people,” said a pastor involved in the peace process.
People began trooping into the ground long before the match started, around 3pm, lending a carnival-like atmosphere. When the match started, the 10,000-odd spectators cheered on the teams with full-throated cries.
Team Hope, in red and white jerseys, comprised top functionaries of the Naga outfits, mostly from NSCN (I-M) and NSCN (K), while NNC was represented by two kilonsers and one “brigadier”. NNC (Shillong Accord) did not take part in the match.
Team Faith, in blue and white jerseys, mostly had reverends.
“Unity is not hard to come by if all play in the true spirit of the game, in the field or outside it,” a kilonser (minister) of the NSCN (I-M) said.
The match did throw up its ironical moments, like when NSCN-IM player “deputy kilonser” Ringthim Rongmei messed up his ground pass to teammate “major” R.M. Lotha of the NSCN-K. “Never mind, that was a nice try,” Lotha said.
On any other occasion, the two would have been gunning for each other.
A non-Naga businessman Sampat Rai, who had turned up at the ground just out of curiosity, said: “The bonhomie between the warring Naga rebels was a welcome sight”.
The first goal of the match came from Rev. Wati Aier, one of the main movers of the unity drive and also captain of Team Faith.
Rev. Aier, playing deep in the rival half, took a measured ground pass close to the box and neatly tapped in the ball into the rival net. The second goal for Team Faith was scored by Rev. C. Lima, who drove the ball into the rival goal in the closing stages of the first half.
After the lemon break, Shantik Konyak, deputy kilonser of NSCN (K) netted the only goal from for Hope.
Rev. Zhabu Terhuja, a church leader, dashed all hopes of a comeback by the rebels as he scored from close range to seal the fate of the match.
Civilians overpower Naga rebels in historic encounter Nagaland Page

Defeat rebels 3-1 in 'Naga Reconciliation' soccer match
KOHIMA, OCTOBER 9: In a major step towards reconciliation among all Nagas, warring Naga militant factions on Thursday teamed up to take on a combined force of Naga civil organizations in a historic 'Naga Reconciliation' soccer match amidst unprecedented security here at the Khouchiezie local ground Thursday evening. Over 5000 enthusiastic spectators witnessed the match.
The two teams were aptly represented as 'Hope Team' and 'Faith Team'. The 'Hope Team' comprised of members from the NSCN (IM), NSCN (K) and Naga National Council (Non-Accordist) while the 'Faith Team' comprised of members from Naga Hoho, Nagaland Baptist Church Council, Nagaland Christian Forum, Forum for Naga Reconciliation, Naga Students' Federation, Naga People's Movement for Human Rights and Eastern Nagaland People's Organization.
In an exciting 70-minutes match, the 'Faith Team' captained by the convener of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation, Rev. Dr. Wati Aier, a Baptist clergyman, comfortably defeated the 'Hope Team' by a margin of three goals to one.
Thursday's 'Naga Reconciliation' match, sponsored by the Nagaland Christian Forum, was the second such match being played. The first match was played at Chiang Mai, Thailand last month.
Showing good understanding and great teamwork, 'Faith Team' hit the back of the 'Hope Team' net first through the boots of their skipper, Rev Dr Aier. The second goal for the well-coordinated 'Faith Team' was scored by Rev C Lima, a NBCC member.
The two teams went into the short break with Faith leading over Hope 2-0.
Coming out of the lemon break, the 'Hope Team' showed how great team work can overcome all obstacles when after some neat exchange of balls Shantik Konyak, Deputy Kilonser (Deputy Minister) of NSCN (K) reduced the margin of defeat for 'Team Hope' from close range
However keeping faith in their abilities, the 'Faith Team' restored the 2-goals led through the boots of Toshi, an ENPO representative.
This is the second time Naga organizations have defeated the Naga rebels in soccer match. The first Naga Reconciliation at Chiang Mai also went in favour of Naga organizations.
The 'Team Hope' consisted of top functionaries of the Naga outfits, mostly from NSCN (IM) and NSCN (K), while NNC was represented by two kilonsers and a 'brigadier'. The NNC (Peace Camp) did not participate in today's match.
Today's match was also witnessed by hosts of top State officials.
It can be recalled that to facilitate and pave the way for the soccer match and for the Bible camp, a 48-hour ceasefire was also enforced since Wednesday. The truce expires Thursday evening.
Though the Naga outfits today pledged to work for peace and reconciliation, there is apprehension among the ordinary citizens that today's match would culminate into reality. (Page News Service)

48-hr truce between Naga rebels ends
KOHIMA, OCTOBER 9: The 48-hours ceasefire enforced since Wednesday between the rival Naga groups ended Thursday night with the successful conclusion of the historic 'Naga Reconciliation' soccer match played at the Kohima local ground today.
Side by side with the run up to the soccer match, the Nagaland Christian Forum has also conducted a 'Bible Camp' for the leaders of Naga outfits since Wednesday till Thursday. Leaders drawn from various Naga organizations also attended the Bible camp.
The 48-hour truce was called to facilitate and pave the way for the soccer match and for the Bible camp. (Page News Service)