Tingplik Express

In this image released to the media the first Naga Cricketer in the IPL, for Kolkata Knight Riders, Hokaito Zhimomi is seen here with teammate Ricky Ponting, who is also the captain of team Australia.

Dimapur, May 30(TEN): This village boy from Sangtamtila of Dimapur district is now an inspiration for cricket-lovers and players in Nagaland.
Meet Hokaito Zhimomi, who is member of the Kolkata Knight Riders team in the Indian Premier League (IPL), a professional Twenty20 cricket league created and promoted by the BCCI and backed by the ICC. He is the first Naga and the only player in the entire northeast to be selected for the Riders in the IPL cricket.
Zhimomi, an all-rounder said he was upset about not playing in the IPL but cherished the exposure and experience he underwent with his teammates like Ricky Ponting and Sourav Ganguly. in the cricketing league. He could not make it to the playing eleven for Riders but assured to practice hard for the next season so that he would make it to the playing eleven. Hokaito Zhimomi who is in Dimapur, played the finals of the Tiens Cricket Cup from Sparks CC as Captain. Sparks CC beat Seemee XI in the final. He was accompanied by Ahidur Rehman, General Secretary, Dimapur District Cricket Association (DDCA) and Mintu Sinha, Manager, Sparks CC at the press conference here today.
While stating about his cricketing trip from village to Kolkata, Zhimomi said he played for Flamingo CC in Dimapur, and then went to Guwahati for coaching where he displayed all-round cricketing and spotted by a coach who advised him to go to Kolkata. After playing for various clubs under different divisions, he was called by the Bengal Cricket Association and got selected in the Kolkata Knight Riders. Zhimomi played for West Bengal in Under 19 and is currently playing for Dalhousie Athletic Club, Kolkata. He also acknowledged the role of his uncle Kito, who lives in Kolkata, in shaping his career.
Talking about the status of cricket in the State, he said the state lacks modern cricket facilities including proper pitch or stadium and also highlighted the lack of positive response from the State government. “Being a Naga, there should be some support from the State,” he stressed.
“I wished to play for my own State instead of West Bengal,” he responded to a query. Appealing to the Nagaland Cricket Association and DDCA, he said “Take initiative towards improving the cricket infrastructure so that it would improve the youngsters in the State.” Hokaito who admires Sourav Ganguly, hopes to call Indian players to the Inter District Cricket Club tourney.
He further expressed gratitude to team co-owner Shah Rukh Khan, coach John Buchanan, and Sourav Ganguly the captain and all players of Kolkata Knight Riders. Also speaking on behalf of the DDCA, Rehman congratulated Zhimomi and said he is the first Naga to participate in the IPL from Nagaland and the northeast. He also hoped that the State would produce more Hokaitos in future. He regretted not being able to help Hokaito more.


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Dimapur, May 31 (TEN): While acknowledging the right of any Naga to live anywhere in the Naga homeland, provided, the Naga Hoho today reiterated the need to have respect for “each other’s community territorial space” and acknowledge traditional ownership. Relatively, in the context of unity, the Naga Hoho also reminded that individual and collective “mistakes” need to be acknowledged to meet the aspiration of ‘reconciliation.’
These affirmations were made by the 9th Naga Hoho general session held may 30 in Peren. “The meet expressed the common desire for unity of all Naga people and land wherein the mutual respect for each other’s community territorial space and boundaries are upheld and the acknowledgement of traditional ownership are firmly established and respected while acknowledging the right to settlement of any Naga throughout the Naga homeland” the Naga Hoho stated in a minute issued by its publicity secretary.
The Naga apex pointed to recognizing the existing bitterness within the Naga nation and reiterated the crucial need to acknowledge individual and collective mistakes to seriously address the issue of reconciliation through the spirit of truth telling, repentance, forgiveness and healing. The hoho also called for cessation of all sort of violence particularly the factional killings and to put to a halt the targeting of any unarmed persons.
The civil society event also appreciated the United Nations for adopting the UN declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples and appreciated the contribution of many toward putting into place an international legal standard acknowledging and upholding the rights and dignity of the world’s indigenous peoples.
The meeting also reiterated its support to the initiative undertaken by the DBs and GBs joint forum towards “cementing the ceasefire” and to end hostilities amongst the Naga underground groups. The hoho also acknowledged the noble pursuit for which the Forum for Naga Reconciliation was launched.
The 9th general session of the Naga Hoho was held at Peren from May 29 to the 31st and hosted by the Zeliangrong Baudi under the theme “Fostering Peace and Harmony”. The August General Session deliberated on the emerging sensitive situation threatening to increase the volume of violence and fratricidal killing amongst Nagas. Civil society present in the event expressed the urgent need for building peace, reconciliation and unity of purpose amongst all section of Naga society particularly the various Naga underground groups.


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