A 5-2 scoreline. A packed playground. And a village celebrating into the night.
The Ngorlung-Ralung playground in East Siang district turned electric on Sunday as the Anju segment team from Ngorlung powered their way to the title of the third edition of the Ali Mongku Memorial Inter-Village Football Tournament, routing the Mibo Yameng (Makbo) side with a commanding 5-2 win in the final.
A Final That Turned on Its Head
If the first half gave neutral fans something to cheer about, the second half was all Anju. The match started cautiously, with both sides finding the net once before the break — a 1-1 draw that kept things perfectly balanced and the tension thick in the air. But the second half told a completely different story. Anju came out with a different kind of hunger, slotting in four more goals to run away with the contest. Mibo Yameng — a combined side drawing players from different corners of East Siang — pulled one back late, but it was never going to be enough. Final score: 5-2, and the trophy belonged to Ngorlung.
More Than Just a Trophy
This tournament carries weight beyond the scoreboard. Named in memory of late Ali Mongku, the event was funded entirely by his son Thomas Mongku and family as a tribute to the man they lost. Organised by Siisang Angong Sirum of Ngorlung and inaugurated by Ruksin-I ZPM Miti Dai Paron on 8 August, the tournament brought villages together for nearly two weeks of competitive football. The champion team walked away with Rs 40,000 cash and the coveted trophy, while Mibo Yameng received Rs 20,000 as runners-up — decent prizes that signal just how seriously this community takes its football.
Honoring Those Who Came Before
One of the more touching moments of the closing ceremony was the special recognition given to veteran footballer and Ruksin Forest Range Officer Opnag Jamoh, along with other senior sportsmen of the region. It’s the kind of gesture that reminds you sport is never just about who wins. Former Ruksin block ZPM Tonggeng Panyang struck a thoughtful note, urging players to weave sports into their everyday lives for both mental and physical well-being. Former Ruksin-I ZPM Aruni Jamoh went a step further, calling on PRI leaders to step up — develop the playgrounds, get proper equipment in young hands, and stop letting potential go to waste.
A Legacy Being Built, One Edition at a Time
Organising committee adviser Devish Panyang and youth leader Anand Mongku both took a moment to remember Ali Mongku’s contributions to the community — the man behind the name on the trophy. Three editions in, this tournament has clearly grown into something the people of Ngorlung take serious pride in. If anything, Sunday’s electric final proved it: community football in East Siang is very much alive, and getting better every year.
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