Now a Football Library on the Card
Renowned Football Coach Soibam Akendra to set up his own Library for Football
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Rishikesh Wangkhem
Imphal, February 22 2013:
With the sole purpose to develop football in the state and inspire the youths to take up the sports as their career, renowned Indian coach Soibam Akendra is planning to set up his own library exclusively for football in the state.
Soibam Akendra who is holding the post of Chief Coach of the I-league team Sporting Club de Goa is an instructor of Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
While talking to Hueiyen Lanpao, the coach disclosed that he is planning for the library since 2008.The main reason behind the idea of setting up a library is to organise the coaches in the state as well as inspire the youths for all round development of football in the state.
When the coaches get together often and share their knowledges, skills and experiences, football will automatically develop in the state, he said.
He further disclosed that he is planning to name the library as Soibam Akendra Family Football Library.
He will store books, CDs, cassettes and various other football related materials in his library.
In order to fulfill his dream, he has been gathering books related with football wherever he go.
So far, Akendra has bought around 377 books related with football.
Above these, he has also photocopied compilations of many rare books of football which he could not find any copy to buy.
His collection of books consist of books from India, China, Japan, England, USA and other countries.
Moreover, he has also a collection of more than 100 CDs and cassettes related with football.
Besides, he has also bought many new equipments which are required while training for football.
When enquired how much amount he has spent so far, Akendra just smiled and refused to give any answer.
For now, Akendra is not planning an exact date for opening the library.
However he said that he is planning to open his library very soon.
He is also planning to buy more equipments from Italy for his collection.
Soibam Akendra is the son of late Soibam Kullachandra and Soibam ongbi Loidang.
Akendra who had been coach of the Indian team represented Manipur for the first time in 1976.He had participated in Junior National Football Championships for Dr VC Roy Trophy and Santosh Trophy at numerous occasions.
After representing Manipur for 13 years in national championships, he began his career as a coach from 1997 .
He acquired AFC-C license in 1997 and get AFC-A License in 2003.He had successfully attended the FIFA Instructor Course, AFC Train the Trainer Course and FIFA Instructor Refresher Course in 2005, 2006 and 2007 respectively.
He had been the coach for state teams of Womens and Santosh Trophy many times.
He had been also the coach for India's U-17 girls' team for many years.
He had also participated various AFC coaching as Instructor in India.
He is one of the seven AFC Instructor in India.
He was honoured by the AIFA with the title Coach of the Year in 2004 for his dedicated and successfull performance as a football coach.