Kabrabam Gopeshore : Goal Keeper of India team during 1970s

Seram Neken *

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

Football was formally introduced in Manipur during the reign of Churachand Maharaj in the late 19th Century. It is said that Mr. William Pettigrew, the Christian missionary and teacher, brought the first football from Calcutta to Manipur. The king being a sports enthusiast created a small playground inside the palace complex and arranged football matches by selecting healthy persons from the localities.

Churachand Maharaj often accompanied players of Manipur to neighboring states to play friendly matches, and also invited teams from outside Manipur for exhibition matches in Manipur. The same tradition was followed during the period of Maharaj Bodhachandra, who happened to be a sports lover like his father. In fact, Sports served as a means for maintaining cordial relations with the neighbors.

With the royal patronage, Manipur promoted football from the early period. In 1920, Manipur Town Club was established and by 1933, Manipur players began to tour outside Manipur. In 1994, Manipur team could defeat the Lamding Town Club (Assam) in the Bidhumukhi Knock Out Football tournament held in Lamding (Assam) and brought back the champions trophy.

As early as 1948, legendary goal keeper Sougaijam Dhiren of Manipur participated in the Santosh Trophy in Calcutta on behalf of Assam Team. Following these episodes, Manipur did not lack popular players of national stature during the last few decades. The history of football development in Manipur will never be complete without the mention of one-time goalkeeper of India team K. Gopeshore.

Sports career of Kabrabam Gopeshore, the third son of K. Kullabidhu and Nganbi Devi of Thangmeiband DM College Gate, started in 1964. As a volleyball player of Manipur team, he had initially participated in a number of volleyball tournaments before embracing football. With the advice of senior players who foresaw his suitability as a football goalkeeper, he turned his interests in football. His skilful handling of ball and high jumps in volleyball gave way to being a good goalkeeper in football.

By 1964-65, Gopeshore as a goalkeeper of North Imphal Sporting Association (NISA), received football training from senior players such as Th. Maniroton, Salam Doren and Sanglakpam Manihar. Besides gaining important knowledge from the football coaching conducted under S. Mewalal, he was also guided by the then football icons like Sougaijam Dhiren, Ningthoujam Brajamani and Kaminikumar.

For the first time, Gopeshore as a student of Johnston school participated in the Inter School Football Meet in 1965 in Shillong from where Manipur school team brought runners up title. The same year, he represented DM College team in the All Assam Inter College Football Tournament in Nagaon. In the year 1966, he got selected in the Manipur team for participation in All Assam Inter District tournament in Dergaon. He fielded as the goalkeeper of Manipur team from 1966 to 1969.

As the goal keeper no. 1 of NISA club, Gopeshore participated in 19th Sir Churachand Singh KCSI, CBS Memorial Invitation Football Tournament in 1969. Defeated by Assam Rifles team by 2-1 goals, NISA team retained the runners up title.

Players in NISA team during this CC Meet were K. Gopeshore and Ch. Iboyaima (Goal keepers), Kh. Biswanath (Defender), S. Manihar (Defender), L. Iboton (Defender), Kh. Kumar (Half), N. Ramjoy (Half), W. Susilkumar (Half), N. Brajakumar (Forward), Ph. Raghu (Forward), Th. Nodiachand (Forward), T. Thoiba (Back), M. Chandramani (Forward), L. Gopal Sharma (Forward), Bhagat Limbu (Forward), K. Rajendra (Back) and Y. Juge (Mid Fielder). Officials of the team were Th. Girani (Manager) and L. Krishnagopal and Th. Topen.

K.Gopeshore fielded as goal keeper of Assam Team (Senior) during the Santosh Trophy in 1968 in Bangalore and also in 1969 in Nagaon. As a goalkeeper of Manipur team, he participated in various tournaments such as Captain MN Gupta Trophy (Silchar), Independent Cup Invitation Football tournament (Nagaon), GN Bordoloi Trophy (Guwahati), ATPA Shield (Jorhat), Dugar Shield (Tejpur), Darjeeling Gold Cup, Duran Cup (Delhi), Rover Cup (Bombay) etc.

In 1972, he got the offer for employment in Nagaland Police with the initiation from Sagolsem Dwijamani, the then sub inspector of Nagaland police. Accordingly, Gopeshore along with W. Indra, Basanta Kabui, L. Ramkumar and Luingaini Kabui joined Nagaland police as Sub Inspectors.

In 1972, Nagaland team with him lifted the champions title of the All India East Zone Tournament and the All India police meet in Bangalore. Again, Nagaland police team won the All India Police Meets in 1973 and 1974. He also joined in Santosh Trophy as a goalkeeper of Nagaland state team in 1974.

By the year 1975, he had the opportunity to face trial selection for Indian football team in Bombay. It was his happiest moment in life, when the positive result of his selection was disclosed on 1st April. As a goalkeeper of India team, Gopeshore participated in the Mara Halim Cup tournament in Indonesia.

Interestingly, he went to Indonesia with just a one rupee not in hand. Players of India team during the tour were Indra Singh (Captain), Bandya Krakte and Gopeshore (Goalkeepers), P. Chowdhry, Harjinder, Goutam S, Gilbar Sangma, Bakshi, Kajal Dhali, Sangar B, Akbar, S. Bhoumik, Habib, Nicholas, Sukhinder and Sabir Ali. India team defeated host Indonesia by 2-1 goals in the first match played on 5 April. In the second match, India beat Malaysia by 2 goals to nil, while the third match with Singapore ended in a draw. However, Korea pushed out India team at the quarter final.

He participated in the Santosh Trophy held in Calcutta in 1975, in which he earned the Best Goal Keeper Award and Nagaland team adjudged the best discipline trophy. The same year, he also received IGP Medal in Nagaland Police. Later, he took part in various tournaments in Calcutta, Madurai, Bangalore, Trivandrum, Locomotive Club of Russia, Colan Club of West Germany etc. By 1978, he had to resign from Nagaland Police with the death of his father.

Veteran player K. Gopeshore acted as the Team Manager of NISA club in CC Meet 1994 and his team grasped the runners up title. He also participated in the 10th Sports Festival of North Eastern Regional Meet in 1996 in Sikkim. Gopeshore was the technical committee member of AMFA. Being a member Local Advisory body of SAI, NERCC, he is presently taking the responsibility for sports promotion in Manipur.

He acted as Assistant Team Manager of NISA team in the CC Meet 2007, in which NISA lifted the trophy beating AMOFA by 2-0 goals. In an interview, the veteran player expresses opinion that the present day players lack discipline and attention, in spite of the availing all the facilities. He appeals to the sports organizers to extend honour to the veteran players during the sports events such as the CC Meet.

for feedbacks email to: nekenseram(at)yahoo(dot)co(dot)in