KOLKATA: The state of Manipur has supplied scores of international players over the years to the India team but come next month and it will see a watershed moment in its football history.
For the first time Manipur is set to host official international matches when India (FIFA ranking 106), Myanmar (159) and Kyrgyzstan (94) are involved in a tri-nation friendly tournament at the Khuman Lampak Stadium in Imphal in March. The matches will be played on March 22, 24 and 26, which fall in the FIFA international window.
Announcing the development during a press conference, with All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey and secretary general Shaji Prabhakaran by his side, Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh said, “It is a great initiative by the AIFF leadership that we are getting to host international friendly matches in Manipur for the first time in history.
“From our end, I can assure everyone that the government of Manipur will do everything to provide the best facilities and facilitate the successful organisation of the tournament. Manipur has provided many international players for the national team. It is indeed an honour to host the tournament and further encourage our players and sports enthusiasts,” added Biren, a former footballer and enthusiast in all kinds of sporting activities.
“The likes of Renedy Singh, Gouramangi Singh, Udanta Singh, Amarjit Singh Kiyam, Suresh, Jeakson and lots more have all set the international stage alight and held the standards of Manipur football high on the national and international stages. Manipur has been a great contributor to women’s football as well. Players like Bala Devi, who is one of the best strikers of this generation, (India) captain Ashalata Devi, Dangmei Grace, Elangbam Panthoi Chanu and many more have made the country proud time and again.”
Renedy was elated, too. Speaking to TOI from Imphal, the former India captain and one of the mainstays in midfield as a senior pro, said, “It’s great, great news. Many players have played for India from Manipur for a long. At times there were 6-7 Manipuri players in the national team, I have played for 12-13 years, but we were unlucky to not have played in our home town. So, it will be a great feeling for the current players from Manipur to play in front of their ‘home’ crowd.”
“More importantly, the people of Manipur will get to see high quality matches. During the Durand Cup group stage matches (in August last year) Khuman Lampak (35,000 capacity) was housefull, so you can imagine what will be the scene during international games. It will be great for the sports lovers, I hope it’s just the start,” added a beaming Renedy.
However, the former India star reminded the responsibility attached to it. “But infrastructure has to be better. We have a lot of grounds in Manipur apart from Khuman Lampak and those are not best maintained. Government interest will be good for the game, infrastructure and facility-wise, and CM being a former player himself will keep up the good work and interest. This (international matches) will have a huge impact in all aspects of the sport and it can only get better but there’s a long way to go,” explained Renedy, who has his own 5-year-old academy in Imphal.
“We all are aware of football’s popularity in Manipur. The state has produced a huge number of footballers, both men and women, but never before has a national team’s match been organised in the state,” AIFF president Chaubey said, adding, “Having launched Vision 2047 recently, our aim is to take quality football to the furthest corners of the country. Manipur’s vibrant football culture makes them deserving hosts, and so they have been given charge of hosting the senior national team’s matches.”
The Blue Tigers last played on home soil in June 2022, when they topped their group to secure qualification for 2024 AFC Asian Cup, defeating Cambodia, Afghanistan and Hong Kong. So, the upcoming friendlies will be part of a series of matches that India will play in FIFA international windows to prepare for next year’s Asian Cup.
