Oinam Bembem Devi - Footballer of the Year of India 2013 : A Profile

Daniel Chabungbam *

Oinam Bembem Devi - Footballer of the Year of India 2013

BIO-DATA

1. Name : OINAM BEMBEM DEVI
2. Father's Name : (L) O. Nageshor singh
3. Address : Pishumthong Oinam leikai-795001
4. Date of Birth : 01/03/1980
5. Education Qualification : B.A Passed
6. Discipline : Women's Football
7. Status : International Player

At the age of 11, Oinam Bembem first started playing football as a player of YAWA Singjamei Leishangthem Leikai from 1991. She then joined SUN Club Mongshangei in 1993 and further joined Manipur Police football team. She is presently a player of Manipur Police Women's football team.

As a talented player, Bembem Devi was included in the India Team in 1995. By working under various coach of the state, she could get a lot of help from them. She was part of the Manipur team in various National Championships from 1995. She was the captain of Manipur women's football team in the National Championships from 2004. She captained the team eight times in the National Championships and the team was awarded winner in all the championships under her captainship. Of all the achievements of Bembem, she wants to give the credit to Soibam Ekendra Singh who is an AFC 'A' license coach.

She was the first recipient of Women's footballer of the year which was awarded by All India Football Federation (AIFF) in 2001. In the same year, Bembem was also received the Women Best Footballer of the year of Manipur from All Manipur Football Association. After a gap of years the 2nd Women's footballer of the year of India was given in 2013, this was again awarded to Bembem Devi from Manipur.

At the International level, Bembem started playing in the Indian team from 1995, She was part of women's football team of India in Asian Football Championships, AFC Qualifying competition, AFC Championship Qualifying round, Pre-Olympic Qualifying competition, South Asian Games, SAFF Women's Football championship, FIFA Women's Qualifying round, etc. She led the Indian team as a captain in AFC Qualifying Competition held at Thailand in 2003. She was the captain of the winning team of India at the 11th South Asian Games held at Bangladesh in 2010 and 2nd SAFF Women's Football Championship held in Sri Lanka in the year 2012.

The young and upcoming players of Manipur as compared to the past have the best awareness of different skills and ideas. They all have the best knowledge to excel in the game of football. What they need today in this profession is to work harder and train themselves. Then they will excel in both the national and international arena.

If the players and all related persons, departments, governments, associating organisations work hand in hand India's women's football team will surely get the chance to take part in FIFA World cup one day. After her retirement from playing football, Bembem wants to work as a coach particularly for the Indian team. Her dream is to see the Indian women team play in the World cup.

Oinam Bembem Devi - Footballer of the Year of India 2013

Oinam Bembem Devi - Footballer of the Year of India 2013 - with her team-mates

INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS