Wahengbam Mathang : A football icon of the 1950s and 1960s

Seram Neken *

As a number of veteran players have either expired or become disabled due to their health problem, their accounts could not be fully furnished. 'ON THE GOLDEN FOOTPRINTS' reproduces here the sports profile of veteran player W. Mathang from Ratneshwori Goswami's Akao Parei Chankhrabasing published in the Huieyen Lanpao (Manipuri).

Football appeared in India during the last part of 1880s. The first ever Football tournament in the country was the Duran Cup held at Shimla in 1888. Later in 1941, Santosh Trophy began as a national Football event from the soil of Calcutta. The biggest Football event in Manipur, the CC Meet was started in the year 1950.

The story of Football in Manipur will remain incomplete without the mention of a strong and vigorous Wahengbam Mathang whose performance in the field attracted the spectators of the time.

Veteran Footballer Wahengbam Mathang is the third son of Wahengbam Anganghal and Wahengbam Ongbi Ibetombi Devi of Sagolband Mabudhou Mantri Leikai. Born in 1940, Mathang started his sporting career from the inter school sports competitions and became a known player of Imphal Sporting Club.

He initially played in Forward position and later in Half position and as Stopper too. He was cool, strong, physically fit and skillful in carrying balls as a Midfielder.

As he is unable to talk due to BP stroke for more than one occasion, his wife Sorojini Devi narrated that for about 10 years after their marriage, Mathang had engaged himself in a number of Football tournaments outside Manipur. He was married at the age of 17 years in October 1958, when his wife was only 13 years old.

Wahengbam Mathang was a known player of the erstwhile Manipur Eleven Team which got the champions in CC Meet in 1951. Manipur Eleven Team with W. Mathang as a popular player won the runners up positions of CC Meet in 1950 and also in 1952, the winners being 4th Battalion Assam Rifles.

A number of Football Teams emerged in Manipur during the mid-1950s. they were Imphal Sporting Club, Tangkhul Sporting Association, Kuki Sporting Club, NACO of Nambul Mapal, Yaiskul Athletics Club, Eastern Sporting Union, TRAU and IBSA. In the CC Meet Football tournament held in 1959, the Imphal Sporting Club won Runners up and the club turned out winner in 1966.

In 1967-68, W. Mathang acted as the Captain of Manipur Eleven Team which won the Assam Inter District Tournament held at Dibugarh. In the final match, Manipur defeated North Frontier Railways team by 3-0 goals.

Talking of the veteran footballer, Shri Sougaijam Somorjit lauded the skills inherent in W. Mathang while carrying and passing the ball in the field. Earstwhile player of NISHA club, Shri Sh. Manihar also praised W. Mathang as a strong player having the required stamina for fielding as Striker, Mid-fielder and Forward.

It is unfortunate that the accounts of the veteran player could not be fully furnished due to his inability to speak out. Nevertheless, Wahengbam Mathang was a well known football player during the 1950s and 1960s.

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