NESA, United Doimukh enter semis
JOLLANG, Jul 21: Nyishi Ethnic Students’ of Arunachal (NESA) and United Doimukh became the first two teams to enter the semifinals of the Jully Super 16 Football Championship being played at the Don Bosco School playground here.
Both the teams entered the last four via penalty shootouts on Sunday. The matches went to tie-breaker after both the quarterfinal matches ended in draws in regulation and extra-time.
While NESA beat Mallo Tatum FC 3-2 in the first quarterfinal, United Doimukh defeated last year’s winner Champion FC 4-3 in the second quarterfinal.
Earlier, NESA and Mallo Tatum FC had played out a 2-2 draw, and United Doimukh had drawn 1-1 with Champion FC in regulation time.
Champion FC took the lead in the 23rd minute with a goal from Rigio Tapu in the rain-lashed second quarterfinal, which was equalized by United Doimukh in the 62nd minute with a goal from Tana Tussar.
The third semifinal will be played between Abu Tadar SC and Chimpu FC at 1 pm, before Puwak 11 locks horns with Riang United in the fourth semifinal at 3 pm.
BJYM general secretary Tako Towmin, who witnessed the quarterfinal matches, advised the players not to consume tobacco and work hard to become good sportspersons.
Lauding the Ajing Arum Society for organizing the tournament with the objective of creating awareness about HIV/AIDS and the harmful effects of smoking and the use of tobacco and tobacco products on the users’ bodies, Towmin emphasized on the importance of engaging the youths in educating the people on such issues.
He also suggested to the teams to play the game in a friendly but competitive manner.
