Aleng Shimrah : Ukhrul was once a powerhouse of Manipur football-II
Source: Ratneshwori Goshwami / Bomcha / Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, April 01, 2013: Aleng Shimray started his footballing career while still a student of Ukhrul Government High School, which won the Inter School Championship in 1968. He recalled how he relished the good quality rice along with Manipuri delicacies like Nga Thongba, Iromba and Uti at Lamlong Bazar while coming to participate in the championship at Imphal.

He went on with an endearing nostalgia how tasty that fare turned out to be on a stomach accustomed to the reddish coloured rice which takes a long time to digest.

Aleng said that he played at the left half position.

While admitting a little use of rough play, he mentioned that keeping a steady supply of ball in quick succession to the opponent's penalty box was his forte.

During his playing forays at Imphal, he befriended Oja Thangjam Modhu, who was then the Deputy Director.

Heaving praise on Thangjam Modhu, Shimrah informed that under the supervision of Modhu, the National School Games were conducted in Imphal twice.

While at Imphal, Aleng Shimray first played for Prakti Shankha, Imphal Sporting Club and later for USA and NISA.

After that he went to Cotton College, Guwahati in 1964 for further studies.

Aleng recalled with a touch of humour that when he broke the news of his becoming the Deputy Director in the Sports Department, his mother asked him why did not you become a teacher .

By that time, in Ukhrul , profession of teacher was respectable and sought after.

Stretching on the ups and lows of a player's life, Aleng said that he expected himself to be in the Indian Youth Team of 1964 which went to Saigon.

Basanta Kumar and Indrajit Namchum, who was a star player from Assam, made it to the final selection.

In the same year, he made it to the Indian Under 19 Team.

In 1965, he was in the Assam team which participated in the Santosh Trophy at Quilon, Kerala.

Aleng expressed his bitter disappointment at the unfair manner in which he was neglected at the final selection for pre-Olympics Indian team of 1968 held in Rangoon, Myanmar.

According to him many stand-by players were favoured over deserving players including him.

Among the happy occasions still etched in memory, Aleng mentioned his first air journey from Imphal to Agartala where he went for a tournament.

He related with near hilarity how the small Dakota plane jerked over air-pockets.

He said in those days he was much envied by the Tangkhuls over his air travel and added that he enjoyed answering many questions on travel by air.

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