About the CC Meet : The Season's Football Showpiece

Gyanendro Ningombam *

58th CC Meet Football Tournament - KLASA, Keinou Vs UPAA, Kiyamgei at Mapal Kangjeibung on 17 Dec 2014 :: Pix - Oken Sanasam

The 58th edition of C.C. Meet will provide an opportunity of getting the diverse people (Sportspersons) of our state united at Imphal for healthy competition and exchange of goodwill, writes Gyanendro Ningombam.

The Sir Churachand Singh KCSI CBF Memorial Football Tournament. Popularly known as C.C. Meet is a glamorous, exclusive and prestigious tournament that show case the very best that football has to offer, with some finest local and outstation teams in the men's game competing to claim the title. The C.C. Meet if we go to discuss is the brain child of Maharaj Budhachandra Singh to stage a super football tournament in the memory of his late father, Maharaj Churanchand Singh who dedicated his entire life in Sports and also the founder of modern sports movement in the State of Manipur. His Royal Highness entrusted the All Manipur Association the Sports Apex Body of the State in 1950 to organize this elite tournament.

The AMSA took the idea and sprit of the Maharaja to the council and the body agreed to start the tournament later that year (1950). The Assn. taking the initiative of this elite tournament, obtained the right to organize the first edition, the historic Mapal Kangjeibung, the oldest living Polo ground in the world was made the venue of the biggest ever inaugural tournament.

Although the modern football was introduced in Manipur at the last part of 18th century it was really only after the C.C. Meet in 1950 that came into existence. In fact, sports whether modern or local (indigenous) in the state remain to emerge as the most popular industry at the threshold of the millennium.

The C.C. Meet, one such prestigious football tournament in the state, organised by the All Manipur Football Association (AMFA) (comes into existence only after decentralisation of nucleus body AMSA in late seventies) has kicked off in the wee hour of December 17 (Wednesday) at Mapal Kangjeibung with Shri R.K. Imo Singh Hon'ble MLA Sagolband A/C and Shri Biramani Singh Vice President AMFA as Chief Guest and President respectively. Being shot up the Prize Money with Gold Centered Shield for the 45th edition to Rs. 100000/- the run up to it has been emblemed by a showpiece of competitive football.

As the tournament draws biggest ever tournament in the ongoing millennium the AMFA, the organizer is gearing up to meet the challenges elaborate arrangements in pick up from for successful conduct of this tournament has been shorted out. The final schedule has also been proposed to hold on in the first fortnight of January 2015.

Some 27 local outfits from 9 different districts of the State have been figured in the first round of knock out stage. And 4 outstation teams like ASEC, Guwahati, ARC, Shillong, SSB, West Bengal and Lalching Club Shillong have been drawn out from Pre-quarter final stage. By now, sports loving people of the State are delighted to bring up this high profile event to Polo Ground, the home of Polo game. The local fans are used to witnessing exceptional football and that is exactly what they can expect at the C.C. Meet, where finest men's teams will battle for one of the most coveted Prizes that sports has to offer.

In fact, C.C. Meet is always an absolutely thrilling tournament and top class teams line up for the event in Imphal Polo Ground ensures that 2014 will be no different at all. But the writer is afraid whether the competition will be able to provide the much expected exceptional football to the fans? C.C. Meet is an annual football event. Being a prestigious tournament football lovers are always in a hot mood to witnessing good football competition of good teams but it still failing.

Why ? Why not good teams in this tournament? Is AMFA reluctant to invite good outstation teams through office of sponsor in order to exist professional football in the state? Why AMFA doesn't take up the step of taking more sponsors than that of Manipur Development Society? Is there any discrepancy or disagreement in taking as much as sponsors in order to ensure to invite some good outstation teams?

Yes it is arguably fact that to invite good teams would definitely mark the team of their terms and conditions (Supposed to be very hard to meet) for participation. It could, I think, be done through channel of sponsorship if AMFA has the will power. This does not meant that I am criticizing the way of organising- that is just in the sense of popularizing football in the state, I am, otherwise, quite delighted to thank AMFA for their tireless effort in preparation of this tournament what is certain to be a fantastic football extravaganza in this season.

The writer observes that as the picture of football market/Industry has come to maximize its product the country's dependence on sports person or footballer in a simple sign does not bring any fruit and pursuit, at this point of time, in the state needs to continue to organize number of elite tournaments inviting high ranking teams of the country under a concrete policy of AMFA.

On the other hand state government with the knowledge of football experts should need to realize the image of sports particularly football as the key to social development, we should always remember that some 200 odd Manipuri Footballers are either working or playing in different clubs of the states in the country who are, in turn, generating inspirations for the next generation.

It is high time for all section of the community particularly the football fans to put their wisdom together to develop a strategy for honourable solution to make the game of football as culture among the youths.