Chabungbam Mani : 'Players need discipline, organizers require sacrifice'

Seram Neken *

'ON THE GOLDEN FOOTPRINTS' reproduces here the sports profile of veteran football player Ch. Mani from Ratneshwori Goswami's Akao Parei Chankhrabasing published in the Hueiyen Lanpao (Manipuri)

Third child of Chabungbam Krishna and Chabungbam Ongbi Kamini Devi of Kwakeithel Leikhujam Leikai Imphal, Chabungbam Mani began to embrace sports during his schooldays at Johnston school. Having a slim body, he had adapted to various games since the childhood.

In the beginning, Mani participated in various under 4ft. and under 5ft. football tournaments, as players' selection was done on the basis of height. By the year 1966, he was fully involved in football as a player of TRAU club which was established on 2nd October 1960.

In an interview, the veteran player stated, "During our time, Manipur team was composed of all communities including Muslims, Kabui, Kuki, and Nepali. As there was not trained and sufficient number of coaches, we were imparted training by Oja Brajamani, Oja Kamini, Oja Aleng and Tamo Syama of Chingamakha, and the matches were framed in 4-4-1 style".

Remembering some of his contemporary players as Ibochou, Nanda from Khurai, Hengkhulen Kipgen, W. Indra, Ibocha from Khurai, Ch. Santikumar, Luingaini, Bishnu Bahadur, Maingou, Angouba Kabui, Mangijao, Chandramani, Ibopishak, Mangi, Tomba etc., Ch.Mani added that he played in both inside left or right positions.

The veteran player recollected that during their time, they did not own even a tract suit. As players of a poor club, they hardly had sufficient boots and uniforms. Even during the Assam Inter District tournament, they did not wear standard uniforms and boots.

In 1967, Manipur Team grasped the winner trophy at the MN Gupta Tournament, the final match was between the Manipur Eleven Team and the Gurkha Regiment. Initially the Gurkha Regiment had been leading by one goal and later one player Kesho of Manipur Eleven team equalized the goal in the last part of first half. During the second half, Ch. Mani scored a precious goal which brought the Manipur team to the victory stand and it was the happiest moment to him.

Dwelling on the deteriorating games interests in schools and colleges, he said, "Football can not progress unless the local clubs hunt and produce players. Once the school level and college level annual sports meets were efficiently organized for screening players for the inter school or inter college events. However, today prevailing education system has made the schools or colleges to organize the sports festivals for namesake only."

In 1968, he took part in Subroto Cup and in 1975-76, Mani along with Bankabihari of ESU participated in the Coaching camp at Patiala conducted by Arun Gosh of Bengal. In 1974, he served as the team captain of TRAU at the CC Meet, the champion trophy of which was lifted by TRAU while ESU grasped the runners up.

TRAU club had important members and players who were responsible for its bright career in football. They were Takhellambam Kullabidhu, Sapam Irabot, Konjengbam Iboyaima, Yendrembam Achou, Oinam Raghumani, AK Manihar, Oinam Sanayaima etc.

Ch. Mani participated in the Santosh Trophy for three times - at Enakulam in 1975, in Patna in 1976 and Calcutta in 1978. Remembering the role of Army Major Dayamoi of Manipur who worked for promotion of football in the state, Mani said that he also acquired the skills of football from him during a training at Imphal.

In the 1978 Santosh Trophy at Calcutta, A. Santoshkumar was the Manager and Laishram Naba was the Coach. Some of the players during the event, as he could recalled, were Seityajit, Akhuba kabui, Man Bahadur, Tayeb Ali, Mangi, Kesho, Rameshore and Chandra. Still Chabungbam Mani is an active organizer of TRAU club.

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