A young footballer Lunminthang Haokip who recently played for Sagolband United in the Zomi Nam Ni Platinum Jubilee Cup 2023 died in a road mishap at Nambol around 12.50 pm Monday, sources said.
The Churachandpur District Sports Association stated in a release that 26-year-old Lunminthang Haokip was a promising footballer who recently played for Sagolband United against the Golngai FC in the Zomi Nam Ni Platinum Jubilee Cup 2023.
Lunminthang was expected to play a key position in the final match with the Kuki Soccer Club, Kangpokpi on Wednesday, it mentioned.
The young football player is survived by his wife and daughter, it added.
Meanwhile, the Jamsat Songtun Youth Club, one of the leading football clubs in Kangpokpi, condoled the untimely demise of its former player Lunminthang Haokip
The 26-year-old Sagolband United defender met with a fatal bike accident at Nambol while returning from Churachandpur toward his native home Saparmeina in Kangpokpi district.
The deceased footballer was playing for Golngai Football Club in the ongoing Zomi Namni Platinum Jubilee, one of the biggest tournaments in the Churachandpur district, and the team is just two days away from the final match with Kuki Sporting Club. He was instrumental in taking the club to the final match, according to the club manager.
Lunminthang Haokip began his professional football career at JSYC and later joined the MSL club, Sagolband United.
JSYC Secretary, Thangcha Kipgen, on behalf of the club, expressed shock and condolence over the untimely demise of its former player and shared the grief of the bereaved family.
He said that Lunminthang Haokip was instrumental in the club's growth and achievements and he was not only a good player but also a good human being. His untimely demise is not only a great loss to his family but to the football fraternity in the state, especially among the Kukis, he added.
The club conveyed its deepest condolences to the bereaved family.
Meanwhile, many football clubs, including, Golngai FC, Kuki Football Academy, United Khawzim Brothers' United, Ganggam Soccer Club, Football Players Association of Kangpokpi, Kuki Sporting Club, and various civil society organizations including KSO Sadar Hills, the organizing committee of the state level Zomi Namni-2023 Platinum Jubilee Cup, also condoled the untimely demise of the bright footballer of the state.
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