"Homeless" India captain Ngamgouhou yearns for peace
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kangpokpi, September 15 2023:
When Ngamgouhou Mate, originally from Tengnoupal district, who captained the Indian football team that won the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Under-16.Champion at Thimphu, returned home, his parents had to welcome him in a relief camp set up in Kangpokpi district as his home at Khongsai Veng, Imphal had already been burnt down in the initial stages of the ethnic violence.
However, the young Indian captain, despite having "no home to stay" looks forward to peace in Manipur.
Three footballers from the Kuki community, namely Ngamgouhou Mate (15) s/o Jamkholal Mate of Pallel (Tengnoupal), Vumlenlal Hangshing (15) s/o Kamkhomang Hangshing of Lhungtin village in Saikul (Kangpokpi), and Levis Jangminlun Haokip (15) s/o Ngamminthang Haokip from Churachandpur district, were in the 23-member Indian squad of the just concluded 8th edition of the SAFF U-16 championship at Thimphu, Bhutan.
Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) Sadar Hills under the aegis of KSO-GHQ, organised a reception ceremony for the India captain and the other two at KSO's office on Thursday, in the presence of KIM representatives.
However, Levis could not attend the event.
KIM president Ch Ajang Khongsai, in his exhortation speech, conveyed KIM's appreciation to the three Kuki footballers who brought fame and laurels to the country despite the trying times faced by the community.
He also encouraged the players to keep away from any kind of intoxicants, and other elements that could ruin their future career, while emphasising on maintaining good moral character, discipline and healthy habits to bring more laurels and fame for the country and the community.
KSO-GHQ Information and Publicity secretary Mimin Haokip also commended the trio's feat and encouraged them to work hard for fruition in their professional careers.
Vumlenlal Hangshing, the left-back player, said: "It is like a dream for me and my team and we are extremely proud of our coach and the staff who guided us throughout the championship and provided us with good training".
"While the players are from different communities from Manipur, our ethnic diversity was our main driving force in clinching the prestigious title for the fifth time.
We (Meiteis and Kukis) had no issue with the violence.
We stayed, dined and slept together.
We are very much friendly and even joked together.
Only football can make this possible," he asserted.
He continued that lifting the championship trophy together with our friend from the Meitei community will also pave way towards peace in Manipur.
Team captain Ngamgouhou Mate and Vumlenlal Hangshing also thanked former Indian footballer Renedy Singh for believing in them and providing the opportunity to participate in the selection trial.
The duo, both players of Imphal-based Classic Football Academy, also conyeyed that it was the concern and faith of Renedy that they had the opportunity to contribute to Indian football.
Ngamgouhou also thanked the almighty God for helping the Indian team clinch the title.
The captain, who was not willing to talk much about the violence in Manipur, said that although it saddened everyone to see our state Manipur being gripped by violence, he personally looks forward to peace in the state.
KSO Sadar Hills general secretary Thangtinlen Haokip expressed deep regret that the captain had to meet his parents in a relief camp owing to the on-going ethnic violence in the state.
It is extremely pitiful for the Indian captain to stay in the relief camp as he no longer has a home, he remarked and as such, urged the authority concerned including the central and state governments to look into the grievances of the Indian captain.
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