Khangembam Joy : 'I am promoting football among the grandchildren'

Seram Neken *

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

Khangembam Joy, a known football star of Manipur from 1958 to 1968 was born in 1942 at Singjamei Waikhom Leikai Imphal. Son of Kh. Jati and Khangembem Ongbi Leirenmacha, he entered his sporting career at the Moirangkhom Pung school while studying class VI. His education started at Khongnang Pheidekpi LP School, from where he was shifted to Moirangkhom school from class III onwards.

During childhood, Joy along with his local friends played football at Kakwa Hijam Lampak every afternoon. By the age of 16 years, Joy had the opportunity to play football with seniors such as Laishram Naba and Shyama. In one of the sports events held at Johnston school, Oja Thangjam Modhu declared him as the youngest football player of the event. In 1958, he for the first time went outside Manipur for the Inter school Games in Delhi, where N. Maipak and Nimai earned one Gold medal each in Shot Put and Pole Vault respectively. His team at Delhi Games included Phareng Takgkhul, Sengam, Zed Romeo etc.

In an interview, the veteran player stated that at 18 years of age, he became a player of Manipur Eleven Team. Kh. Joy also joined the Yaiskul Athletics Club and NACO club respectively before joining the Southern Sporting Union (SSU). The SSU began to take part in CC Meet from the year 1961. During his time, the price of a boot was fifteen rupees and the club contributed ten rupees each for buying the boots.

He got a new taste of football in 1965 at the three-day training camp at Imphal conducted under the coach S. Mewalal. Known football players of Manipur during those days were Bidhu from Khurai (Stopper), Sanglakpam Manihar, Imocha from Yumnam Leikai, Inaocha Sharma, Borbabu from Thnagmeiband, Wahengbam Mathang (Half), Nabadip from Kwakeithel, Ramjoy (forward), Ramkumar, Basanta Kabui, AK Surjit, Luingaini and Kh. Joy.

Kh. Joy further stated that Singjamei Waikhom Leikai initially had a local club named "Eikhoigi Club" formed by Koijam Tamo Achoubi. Oja Brajamani who was a good friend of Koijam Achoubi provided training to the players of the club. When SSU was established in the year 1960, Kh. Joy became a player of the first football team of SSU which comprised Moirangthem Kunjabi (Forward), Haobam Abung (Back), Th. Jugindro (Goalkeeper), Thongam Iboton (Back), Soibam Pishak alias Bimol (Forward), Kuber, Waikhom Pratap (Right Out), Romesh (Back), Nongthonbam Gopal (Half), Leishangthem Kuber (Forward), Laishram Tomba (Half) etc.

To recall, Sougaijam Dhiren was the first Meitei player who took part in Santosh trophy in Calcutta in the year 1948. During those days, Manipuri players had to pass some stages to be able to participate at the national level. First they had to compete in state league for joining Manipur Eleven team and then they had to take part in Assam Inter district tournaments for selection in Assam team.

Khangembam Joy was able to participate in Santosh Trophy in 1965 along with Wahengbam Mathang and L. Ramkumar from Manipur. In the Assam Inter district tournament held at Dibugarh in 1967, Joy acted as the Vice captain of Manipur Eleven team led by Wahengbam Mathang as captain. Players during the tournament were Wahengbam Mathang (Half), S. Manihar Sharma (left striker), RK Bijoy (Half), Inaocha Sharma (Back), AK Surjit (Forward), K. Gopeshore (Goalkeeper), Dipak Limboo (Goalkeeper), Kamo (Mid fielder), L. Ramkumar (Forward), N. Ramjoy (Forward), Basantakumar Kabui (Forward), Yumnam Imocha (Back), Dhiren (Back), Sarat (Back) and Kh. Joy (Left half). The team which was led by Eigya Krishna as Manager lifted the champions trophy by defeating North Frontier Railways by 3-0 goals. Striker AK Surjit got the head trick by scoring all the three goals.

In the 1959 CC Meet, Kh. Joy took part in the YAC team along with Sougaijam Dhiren (Goalkeeper), Eigya Tomba (Back), Gouramadhov (Back), S. Sonamani (Forward), Chongtham Bijoy (Back), Thaninjao Kabui (Half), J. Singh (Half), Chongtham Basanta (Left out), Nimai (Forward) etc. Although YAC could not win the match, it got the champions in 1964.

The veteran player is still taking keen interest in football as his two sons are playing football in the position held by their father. His son Kh. Inaocha played under Mahamedan Sporting Club Calcutta in 2000 and last son Kh. Momocha played in Manipur team as Mid-fielder. Manipuri football players - Kh Ratan, Kh. Ruman and Binokumari are near relatives of veteran player Kh. Joy, who is still working for promotion of football under the SSU. He is also an important organizer of Waikhom Leikai Athletics Club.

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