Thongam Tababi calls for greater focus on women's football

Rajachandra Mutum *

Thongam Tababi, the former captain of national women football team :: Pix - Chronicle News Service

Thongam Tababi, the former captain of national women football team, has called for according importance to development of women footballers in the state.

Though state's male players are donning colours of top teams in the Indian Super League (ISL), I-League, and other prestigious tournaments, number of female footballers making it to such a level is negligible, Tababi said, emphasising the need for dedicated grassroots programmes to nurture the next generation of female players and ensure their prominence in national and international scenario.

Tababi, who began her footballing career in 1988 under the guidance of coach L Bijoy, first represented India in 1995.Over her 17-year career, she played 13 international matches, was part of three championship winning teams, and represented the state in 15 championships, emerging victorious in 14 of them.

In recognition of her achievements, she was honoured with the Footballer of the Year award by All Manipur Football Association in 1999 and 2010.All Manipur Working Journalists' Union also acknowledged her contributions with the Sports Journalist Award in 2001 .

Tababi captained the Indian team twice and was named the Best Valuable Player at the AFC Women's Championship in 1997, held in China. She also earned the Best Scorer title at the 1999 AFC championship in the Philippines. She hung up her boots in 2012-13 following a series of knee ligament injuries that eventually required surgery.

Reflecting on her journey in a chat with The People's Chronicle, the 47-year-old recalled how football has evolved since she first laced her boots. "Players from Manipur hold a special place in Indian football, both in men's and women's teams. However, there's a glaring gap when it comes to the number of women players," she said.

According to her, it has been challenging to find replacements for senior women players after their retirement, thereby necessitating focus on grassroots development programmes. After undergoing surgery for ligament injury in Guwahati, Tababi attempted several comebacks, but her injuries prevented her from returning to the held.

Despite this setback, she transitioned to coaching and administration, securing an AFC 'C' License. In 2014, she spearheaded a grassroots football programme under the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in Manipur to promote the sport among younger generations.

Her passion for football did not end with her retirement as she became a referee, serving for over hve years, and mentored several clubs, including LYTHC, Khongman Bashikhong and AADA Club, Arapti. She also cleared the national exam for referees and served as an executive member of the AIFF.

Recognising her immense contribution, the AIFF appointed her as an observer for the U-17 AFC Girls' Qualifying Round held in Thailand in 2023, and later as team manager of the senior national women team during the SAFF Women's Championship in Nepal.

"These opportunities have motivated me to continue contributing to the sport. Despite my physical limitations, I'm now training for the All India Police Sports Meet as part of the Manipur Police team," said Tababi, who is currently serving as an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) in Manipur Police department.

Looking ahead, Tababi expressed her desire to enter sports administration for a more proactive role in advancing women's football. She hopes for greater collaboration and cooperation among stakeholders to create opportunities and foster excellence for future women footballers in the state and across the country.

Her legacy as one of India's finest women footballers continues to inspire young athletes, even as her continuous efforts to support women's football underscore her unwavering commitment to the sport she loves. With the right support and infrastructure, Tababi believes the future is bright for women footballers in Manipur and India.