Football fans in Nagaland are preparing for the upcoming 26th edition of the NSF Martyrs Memorial Trophy, which is scheduled to run from November 13 to December 3. The grand finale of the tournament will coincide with the Hornbill Festival 2026. The football championship is being hosted by the Angami Students Union under the banner of the Naga Students Federation, representing the wider student community in the region. The event receives backing from the Nagaland Olympic Association and is being organized in tandem with Hornbill Festival 2026.
Announcement and Schedule Details
The complete schedule and associated details for the tournament were officially revealed during a press briefing held at the Angami Students Union office in Kohima. Key figures present at the media briefing included Angami Students Union president Dziesevisie Nakhro, organizing committee convenor Kesosul Christopher Ltu, Games and Sports secretary Seyielhousa Seyie, organizing committee member Aja Zinyu, and Angami Students Union general secretary Rajuselie Chucha.
Spanning a duration of 17 days, the tournament will feature football squads hailing from various districts of Nagaland as well as neighboring northeastern states. Due to the relatively compressed timeline for the matches, registrations will be processed strictly on a first-come, first-served basis. Participating teams are required to submit their entry forms by October 24, while the official fixture draw is slated to take place on November 2. The registration form carries a cost of Rs 300, and the main tournament entry fee is fixed at Rs 7,000.
Prize Pool and Financial Breakdown
The championship boasts a combined prize purse of Rs 8.80 lakh. The tournament champions will walk away with Rs 3.50 lakh alongside medals and citations, while the runners-up will be awarded Rs 2 lakh. The two semi-finalist teams that fall short in the penultimate round will receive Rs 60,000 each, and the four quarter-finalists eliminated at that stage will take home Rs 30,000 each. In addition to team prizes, six individual awards carrying a cash prize of Rs 10,000 each will be presented for Best Custodian, Best Defender, Best Midfielder, Golden Boot or Top Scorer, Fair Play, and Most Promising Player Under-19. Every single match will feature a Player of the Match award, and the ultimate Player of the Tournament will be honored with Rs 30,000 and a formal citation.
Logistical Tenders and Spectator Perks
To streamline operational facilities, the organizing committee has rolled out a trial-based tendering system encompassing essential domains such as ground management and local hospitality services, with the tender amount fixed at Rs 12 lakh. Spectators attending the matches will also get a chance to win attractive prizes through 10 lucky draws planned from the quarter-final stage all the way to the final, with winners determined via spectator entry tickets. Furthermore, the organizing committee has reached out to business firms, corporate houses, and external agencies to partner with the tournament through advertisements and commercial promotions, capitalising on the concurrent Hornbill Festival 2026.
Cultural Fiesta and Unity Message
Alongside the football championship, the Angami Students Union is organizing a cultural fiesta on September 21 under the guiding theme of Together in Culture, Together in Harmony, bringing together various tribal student organizations stationed in Kohima. This cultural gathering aims to reinforce mutual understanding and solidarity among the Naga populace. According to the organizers, the initiative will project a clear message that the Naga people remain bound together despite any internal differences.
The Nagaland Chief Minister is anticipated to grace the cultural fiesta as the chief guest. The itinerary also features an address by the Naga Students Federation president and an inspirational exhortation delivered by the president of the Angami Public Organization. The Angami Students Union has earnestly invited tribal student bodies and the general public to participate in the cultural program and support the mission of unity and community harmony. In a related development within the state, authorities have also focused on educational improvements, such as the school quality assessment pilot launched in 114 government schools.
