The lesson to be learnt from SAFF victorious boys
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: September 19, 2023 -

THE news report of Ngamgouhou Mate, who led the under-16 Indian football team to victory at the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) championship in Bhutan's capital Thimpu recently, being welcomed by his family and friends in a relief camp in Kangpokpi district when he returned home after lifting the coveted trophy as his rented house in Khongsai Veng; Imphal had been burnt down in the current ethnic violence between the Meetei and Kuki-Chin communities in the tiny northeastern state of Manipur was indeed very sad.

By beating Bangladesh 2-0 in the title clash, India's under-16 team helmed by 15-year-old Ngamgouhou Mate lifted the trophy of SAFF U-16 Championship for the fifth time and became the toast of the entire nation.

The 23-member squad of the U-16 fndian national team had as many as fifteen players from Manipur including three belonging to Kuki community, namely Ngamgouhou Mate, Vumlenlal Hangshing and Levis Jangminlun Haokip; and eleven from Meitei/Meetei community, namely, Aheibam Suraj Singh, Karish Soram, Bharat Lairenjam, Samson Ahongshangbam, Ningthoukhongjam Rishi Singh, Yaipharemba Chingakham, Usham Thoungamba Singh, Ngariyambam Abhijit, Chingtham Renin Singh, Ningthoujam Newton Singh and Kangujam Yoihenba Meetei.

There was also one player from the Meitei Pangal community of Manipur in the squad, namely Md Arbas, who was honoured with the awards of Most Valuable Player and Highest Scorer of the championship.

In the final match of the 8th edition of SAFF U-16 championship played at Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bharat Lairenjam found the net within 8 minutes of the play, and Levis Jangminlun Haokip sealed the victory with a second-half goal in the 74th minute.

With these two goals contributed one each from a young Meitei/Meetei player and a Kuki-Chin player, the under-16 Indian football team "Blue Colts' scripted history much to the jubilation of the entire nation.

The point we are trying to drive home here is when these young boys have shown to the world what the unity of Meeitei/Meetei and Kuki-Chin people can do and achieve, why the so-called leaders of the two ethnic communities are encouraging their own people to engage in a vicious cycle of senseless violence of killings and burning down the houses of each other.

The ethnic violence has crossed over four months now and it has caused untold sufferings to people of all communities living in the state regardless of their position and standing in the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Coming at a time when the people of Meeitei/ Meetei and Kuki-Chin communities are locked in an intense communal conflict fuelled by sheer hatred, the success of India's U-16 football team at the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) U-16 Championship may very well serve as a golden opportunity for the war-mongering leaders on both side of the ethnic divide to reflect upon their deeds, nay, misdeeds.

They should try to learn from the spirit of these young players, who did not allow the current conflict to affect their friendship and performance in the championship.

As Vumlenlal Hangshing is quoted to have said, "While the players are from different communities, our ethnic diversity was the main driving force behind clinching the prestigious title for the fifth time.

We (the Meiteis and Kukis) have no issue with the violence. We stayed together, ate together, and slept together.

We are very much friendly and even joked together," then, pray tell us, why should there be any issue between the two communities in living together just like before and promote peaceful co-existence among all the communities who have made Manipur their home since time immemorial?

It's time for the war-mongering leaders on both side of the clash divide to think over and ask themselves the worth of allowing the ethnic clashes to go on any further.