A football player, hockey player and boxer since the 1960s- Ksh Ibopishak
On the Golden Footprints-17
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Seram NEken
Imphal, November 19 2013:
'ON THE GOLDEN FOOTPRINTS' reproduces here the profile of veteran player Ksh Ibopishak from Ratneshwori Goswami's Akao Parei Chankhrabasing published in the Huieyen Lanpao (Manipuri) .
Lost mother in the very childhood, Ksh.
Ibopishak has with him the unrelenting sporting spirit that has nurtured him to be the passionate player of Football, of Hockey, of Boxing and of Athletics.
An all rounder of yesteryears, Ibopishak is still associating with Hockey in his late 60s.
Born on Sunday, the 27th October 1947, Ksh.
Ibopishak is the fourth child of Ksh.
Basanta and Thongbram Ningol Thakurani Devi of Uripok Laikhurembi Leikai Maning Leirak.
During 1958 at his eleventh year, he began to play Football with a rubber ball costing 50 paise by that time.
He started participating in various tournaments, also as a hired player of other clubs.
The payment for hiring in those days was around five to ten rupees.
Playgrounds of Uripok Tourangbam leikai, Uripok Khoisnam leikai etc.
were the maiden platform where he and his colleagues played football.
He was also interested in athletics events such as High Jump, Long Jump and Paul vault.
His sports career began during 1961-62, when he started playing football at a small ground at Uripok Tourangbam Leikai.
Led by a local elder called Sanjembam Thoibi, he began to join small tournaments under the Young Union Club (YUC) by that time.
The so called Laphubon Lampak at Uripok Khaidem Leikai was the playground where tournaments were often conducted.
According to Ksh.
Ibopishak, his contemporary players in YUC were T.Syamkishore, T.Sakhi, T.Momon, Biren, Nilamani Sharma, Ng.
Bimol, A.Ranjan, H.Rajen, Kh.
Sudhir, B.Surendra Sharma, A.Ibohal, H.Biren, etc.
There was also a big playground at the place where the Cheirap Court stands today.
The elders who supported the payers were M.Thoibi, Syambi, N.Jaken, N.Manglemjao, T Binoi, G.Manisana Sharma, T.Naran, T.Debendro, Kh.
Ramkumar, O.Megha etc.
He had also been the captain from Junior to Senior teams in the Youth Progressive Association (YPA).
YPA of Uripok Khoisnam Leikai had also a number of Football players.
As remembered by Ibopishak, the two elder persons who took keen interest in Football were Khoisnam Gouramani and Kangabam Romoni.
Those who were playing in YPA include Ibohal,Kaminikumar,Ibetombi, Iboyaima, Raghumani.