TODAY -

State to host tri-nation tourney amid mess in AMFA
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: February 08, 2023 -



NEEDLESS to say, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) wouldn't have chosen Manipur to host the Tri-Nation FIFA Friendly Football Tournament had there been no improvement in the law and order situation. About a decade back when shootouts and bomb explosions, not to mention of agitations happening on a daily affair, no sane person would have imagined that football matches or any sports events would be played after dusk in the state.

As such, regular conduct of I-League matches under the floodlights at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium testifies the dramatic changes Manipur has undergone in recent years.

No doubt, even during the height of insurgency movement, regional and a handful of national level sports events were held in the state but the national sports federations always overlooked Manipur when the country played hosts to tournaments or championships of international stature as the state was considered a forbidden land due to consistent restive situation.

However, Manipuri sportspersons remained resilient, focussed on their daily training rigours and eventually overcame all obstacles to earn the state the enviable tag as the powerhouse of sports in India.

Manipur has been regularly producing sportspersons of international repute, but football remains one of the most popular sports.

Apart from hundreds of players plying their trade with top football clubs of the country there are abundant talents still available all capable of securing lucrative contracts with clubs playing in the prestigious Indian Soccer League or Indian League football competitions.

Along with the state hosting the prestigious Santosh Trophy national football championship some two decades back, group round matches of 131st Durand Cup, Asia's oldest football tournament were also played here in August last.

Both the competitions, though held decades apart, drew impressive number of spectators thereby indicating that Manipuris are ardent supporters of football.

When it comes to sports, one can't ignore the fact that sportspersons of Manipur, which has roughly about 29 lakh populations, have been competing and excelling in Commonwealth, Asian and Olympic Games for the last many years.

In acknowledgement of potential of Manipuri sportspersons, the Union government, literally, gifted the National Sports University to the state.

As such, regardless of the disturbing trend of substance abuse among the youngsters, improvement in the law and order situation, availability of standard training facilities and experienced instructors across the state have been able to lessen the threat of spoiling the youngsters' career to a great extent.

It is also heartening to learn that many youths have started to take up sports as a serious profession these days as they are fully convinced that excelling in sports discipline of one's choice could guarantee a secured life and decent income.

Thus, Manipur poised to create sports history by hosting matches of Tri-Nation FIFA Friendly Football Tournament could be attributed to the prevailing stable socio-ethnic situation as well as in acknowledgement of achievements by the state's sportspersons.

Moreover, the upcoming matches involving India's senior men's team with a handful of Manipuri players in the side would help the youngsters to keep away from drugs and explore the opportunities that football or any other sport discipline could provide.

Hosting of the upcoming international matches will also hopefully invigorate the All Manipur Football Association (AMFA), which is currently facing resignation of its executives one after another, to put its house in order failing which popularity of football in the state will eventually wane.



* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.




LATEST IN E-PAO.NET
  • Sajibu Cheirao-chingkaba : Gallery
  • COVID-19 Status 24 March : Govt of Manipur
  • Central Univ Punjab exposure tour to Manipur
  • Question of Survival
  • lived without love, not one without water
  • World Tuberculosis Day at Arunachal
  • COVID-19 : Impact in Manipur :: News Timeline
  • Pulling out of SoO pact with 3 groups
  • Legal hurdles in nailing drug peddlers
  • Sangai Fest: Moyon Dance : Gallery
  • Will lessons from COVID vaccine rollout ...
  • Of water scarcity: Beyond class room teaching
  • COVID-19 Status 23 March : Govt of Manipur
  • Manipur Univ to host students from Punjab
  • Mangrove, the magical tree
  • Ban plastics or set up recycling plants
  • Enforcing ban on single use plastic
  • Sajibu Cheiraoba Chak Katpa #1 : Gallery
  • Tri-Nation International Football Tournament
  • Modern Cancer Treatment in Manipur
  • International conference on Natural farming
  • Importance of farm pond for agriculture
  • Drowned :: Poem
  • Poireiton Khunthok (Abridged Translation) #1
  • Sajibu Cheiraoba (Meitei New Year) : Book
  • COVID-19 Status 21 March : Govt of Manipur
  • 'Implement NRC must precede delimitation'
  • Yuva Samvad - India@2047 organized
  • Serum for hair
  • As you sail through the noises
  • Seizure of PDS rice amid erratic distribution
  • Studying with a purpose in mind
  • Yaoshang Mei Loukhatpa #3 : Gallery
  • Liquor prohibition in Manipur
  • Lifting Bhagyachandra and elephant
  • COVID-19 Status 20 March : Govt of Manipur
  • Bishnupur Cricket Association meeting
  • Fake News & Disinformation New Challenges
  • Prospect, feasibility of natural farming in state
  • Manipur and water crisis
  • Lamta Thangja @Kangla Gate : Gallery
  • Sangai Fest: Kabui Dance : Gallery
  • COVID-19 Status 19 March : Govt of Manipur
  • Oil and gas scenario in Manipur
  • NPF's 'Gandhigiri' gestures towards NDPP
  • Spreading happiness as a career choice
  • Afforestation campaign: Test of Govt resilience
  • Poppy plantation & agents of desertification
  • My Memories of Imphal #14 : Download
  • Imphal Turel condition [18 Mar] : Gallery
  • COVID-19 Status 18 March : Govt of Manipur
  • Seminar on Awareness about lifestyle diseases
  • Pole Star :: Poem
  • Blunting of AIDS epidemic: zero-complacency
  • Conduct of election to Municipal in Nagaland
  • Saroi Khangba @ Imphal #2 : Gallery
  • Ima Keithel, a yearlong tourist's destination
  • COVID-19 Status 17 March : Govt of Manipur
  • Her Struggle
  • In Nagaland, NDPP rises & NPF falls
  • Dream Zone - School of Creative Studies
  • Sluggish project works abetting water crisis
  • Taking the NRC call to Delhi : Unifying factor
  • Nongmaithem Tombi Singh's contribution #2
  • Highways of Life :: Movie Review
  • COVID-19 Status 16 March : Govt of Manipur
  • Farewell Maharashtra student : Gallery
  • How healthy is your relationship ?
  • G20: Driving women-led development
  • Yogini Temple of Hirapur, Odisha
  • Holistic laws must to cleanse rot in exam
  • All thunder & lightening but no rain
  • Bora Festival #2 : Gallery
  • Deepika Mayanglambam : Felicitated by Y20
  • COVID-19 Status 15 March : Govt of Manipur
  • Will shorter TB regimen reach those in need
  • From a student, Dear Dhanamanjuri University
  • An inspiring story of a fish farmer journey
  • British Council announces STEM scholarship
  • State's reputation at stake as drug...
  • Briefing Union Home Minister
  • Thabal Competition #1 : Gallery
  • International River day at Lairouching
  • COVID-19 Status 14 March : Govt of Manipur
  • Lembi Leima : Film Premeire at Melbourne
  • Ballad For Gloom :: Poem
  • Dialectics of identity & development #2
  • Patriarchy opting for Gender Equality
  • Demand for NRC, panel testifies restive state
  • All set for HSLC 2023 exams
  • Yaoshang Mei Loukhatpa #2 : Gallery
  • COVID-19 Status 13 March : Govt of Manipur
  • Railways acts as engine of development
  • The Book of Ichigo Ichie :: Review
  • Platform for women to re-start their careers
  • The rising threat of forest fires
  • Land allotment scam amid uproar over eviction
  • Noting stand of Forest Minister
  • English Pronouncing Skills : Book Download
  • Day 5: Yaoshang Sports : Gallery
  • COVID-19 Status 12 March : Govt of Manipur
  • Representation to PM seeking appointment
  • Condemnation of CM N Biren's interview
  • Eco-friendly management of fall armyworm
  • Honesty is the worst privacy
  • Resistance to Govt efforts to protect forests
  • Tough times call for tough decisions
  • My Memories of Imphal #13 : Download
  • Day 4: Yaoshang Sports : Gallery
  • COVID-19 Status 11 March : Govt of Manipur
  • Why COVID-19 continues to be a pandemic?
  • International Women's Day
  • 'Electricity collaboration' diplomacy in BBIN
  • Day 3: Yaoshang Sports : Gallery
  • Yaoshang Sports: Yubi Lakpi at Khongman
  • COVID-19 Status 10 March : Govt of Manipur
  • UNHHRC access to Mizoram & Manipur
  • Govt to withdraw from SOO agreement
  • 4 Filmmakers invited for Indie8 Fest
  • Dialectics of identity & development #1
  • Thabal Chongba @Mongsangei #1 : Gallery
  • Yaoshang Pichakari #1 : Gallery
  • Featured Front Page Photo 2023 #1: Gallery
  • International Women's Day 2023
  • COVID-19 Status 09 March : Govt of Manipur
  • Yaoshang Sports at Khongman
  • International Women's Day at IBSD, Imphal
  • Nakatheng Chatpa @Kakwa : Gallery
  • Yaoshang Mei Loukhatpa #1 : Gallery
  • COVID-19 Status 08 March : Govt of Manipur
  • Sports item distributed at Bishnupur
  • Parents :: Poem
  • Call for world peace & harmony
  • Tips to play safe Holi
  • Yaoshang Mei Thaba @Imphal : Gallery
  • Yaoshang Mei Thaba @Nabadwip : Gallery
  • COVID-19 Status 07 March : Govt of Manipur
  • Yaoshang : Nostalgia, tradition & identity
  • GOI pressure on CM Rio to deliver solution
  • Update gun license otherwise
  • Art Exhibition @ RKCS #1 : Gallery
  • NE Convention on Indigenous Peoples Land
  • COVID-19 Status 06 March : Govt of Manipur
  • Yaoshang (Holi) Festival :: Book
  • Railways: Engine of new growth in NE India
  • Precautionary measures during Yaoshang
  • Persons suffering from Sickle cell disease
  • Training on mushroom at Khangabok
  • Floodlight boon for state's sportspersons
  • Act not think for the future of Meiteis
  • Yaoshang Sen Khaiba : Gallery
  • Students Tour to Nagpur #2 :: Gallery
  • COVID-19 Status 05 March : Govt of Manipur
  • Lampak is calling
  • North East endorses Modi but with conditions
  • Elephanta Caves
  • After village chief, anti-poppy vow by legislator
  • The good & the bad of Yaoshang
  • My Memories of Imphal #12 : Download
  • Sangai Fest: Khutpak Chatkoi #2 : Gallery
  • 538th Birth Anniv of Cheitanya Mahaprabhu
  • COVID-19 Status 04 March : Govt of Manipur
  • Gender gap in STEM: Its impact & solution
  • On Rethinking Corruption
  • How sports help in development of women
  • Lanna Thouram of Chaoren #2 :: Gallery
  • Water use during water crisis: Hunphun/Ukhrul
  • COVID-19 Status 03 March : Govt of Manipur
  • World Wildlife Day : Awareness Cycle Rally
  • Farewell to students from Maharashtra
  • Bodoland International Knowledge Festival
  • Startups & NE India connect
  • Minister Biswajit's anti-poppy stand
  • Show no leniency to poppy growers
  • MANITEX @ Nilakuthi #3 : Gallery
  • Dr Surpriya Hawaibam: Ophthalmology Award
  • Time to get back to basics to end TB
  • In light of reintroducing Damodar Swami
  • Can Myanmar-Bangladesh promote ASEAN
  • Play organic Holi with natural colors
  • Must prepare to derive benefit of border trade
  • ST demand has come a long way
  • Likon Sanaba @Ningthoukhong #2 : Gallery
  • State Project Co-ordinator for Manipur
  • COVID-19 Status 01 March : Govt of Manipur
  • National Science Day at Lilong
  • Lessons from the inferno @Sainik School
  • Messi -- The Name Is Enough -III
  • Tourism is a cross cutting industry
  • Spike in electricity demand
  • Lungnila : Long wait for justice
  • Hiyang Tannaba @ Loktak #4 : Gallery
  • COVID-19 Status 28 Feb : Govt of Manipur
  • Owner of Translucent Umbrella :: Poem
  • Scope of Pentatomidae as bio-control
  • Water shortage, sip on the rocks
  • 'Nagaland Poll- voter turnout of 85%'
  • Challenges to fruition of rice procurement
  • State needs Old Cachar Rd & more highways
  • Nongmaithem Tombi Singh's contribution #1
  • March Calendar for Year 2023 : Tools
  • COVID-19 Status 27 Feb : Govt of Manipur
  • Indigenous Peoples & Forest Rights
  • MPSC Civil Services Aspirants concerns
  • Bridal Beauty Sustainable Show @ Delhi
  • Student delegates from Maharashtra
  • Perennial apathy hallmark of Imp-Jiri road
  • Irrigation & agricultural productivity
  • Saroi Khangba @ Imphal #1 : Gallery
  • The delimitation issues of Manipur
  • Smoking rates decline in Cambodia but...
  • Plenty of money; Famine of leadership
  • Leader versus Boss
  • Fermentation tech of Beauveria Bassiana #2
  • Ugly side of competitive exams comes to fore
  • Economic development & investment
  • My Memories of Imphal #11 : Download
  • Sangai Fest: Cherry Blossom @Mao : Gallery
  • COVID-19 Status 25 Feb : Govt of Manipur
  • The drunken 'Nagaland'
  • Who made who
  • Phone pe Panchayat
  • Lanna Thouram of Chaoren #1 :: Gallery
  • Singarei :: Poem
  • Singju Festival @Heingang #1 :: Gallery
  • Students Tour to Nagpur #1 :: Gallery
  • 6th Intl Women's Polo #1 :: Gallery
  • Lui-ngai-ni Fest @ Chandel #1 :: Gallery
  • Mangani Leihun of Chaoren #2 :: Gallery
  • Shopping List for Shivaratri :: Gallery
  • 74th Republic Day @ Kangla #5 :: Gallery
  • Jiribam Keithel [June 2022] #2 :: Gallery
  • MK Binodini's centenary - oral literature
  • Aribam Syam Sharma :: Filmography
  • Chinese New Year @Bangkok 2023 :: Gallery
  • Olympians & National awardees of Manipur
  • Downloadable Manipuri Calendar for 2023