Sports do not give room for communal considerations: Asem Amuba
On the golden Footprints-6
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Seram Neken

Imphal, November 06 2013: It was as early as in 1920 that Manipuris played football on the outside soil.

In the Lamding Bidhumukhi Knock-out Football tournament, Manipur team emerged victorious by defeating Lamding Town Club by 3-0 goals.

By the year 1947-48, famous football players appeared in the state.

Asem Amuba was one of the popular football players of Manipur during this period.

Asem Amuba, born at Yaishkul Police Lane in the year 1928, is the third child of Asem Kalachand and Sorokhaibam Ningol Asem Ongbi Manjuri.

His father being the member of the popular sports organization of the time namely Manipur Town Club, Amuba belongs to a sports family and there was also a sports wave in Manipur during his childhood.

Youths in and around his family took keen interests in games such as football, volleyball and athletics.

Amuba indulged in the games as part of the school team of Churachand School.

At that time, there were five school teams namely Churachand school team, Ram Lal paul school team, Johnston school team, Bengali school and Yor High school (at Uripok Chakri kom) .

Asem Amuba

Amuba joined the Manipur team at the All Assam Inter-district Football tournament at Shillong in 1947 as a standby player.

The Manipur team which turned victorious at the tournament was composed of players namely Asem Amuba (left half), Sougaijam Biren (Goalkeeper), Yangmaso Saija (Full-back), Fareng Tangkhul (left half), Sangsaleng Khongsai (centre half), Mangsakai Khongsai (left half), Ningthoujam Brajamani (Right Back), Koijam manihar (left out), Major Dayamoi (Right In), Bhorei Tangkhul (Centre Forward), Amakhao (Back) and Sengam (left In).

Sanjembam Priyokumar also participated as wide wing player.

Change of players during the play was not a convention in those times.

Recalling their moments during the tour, Asem Amuba said that the state team also enjoyed the Jhulon programme arranged by Bengalis at Shillong Police Bazar.

In the following year also, Amuba as a Left-half player went to Silchar to participate in the Inter-district Football tournament along with former Chief Minister Yangmaso Saija as Back player, eight Tangkhul players and three Khongsai players.

Amidst the poor road communication, the players set out in the mini bus of Manipur Drivers Union upto Dimapur.

They had to depart at the afternoon as Yangmaso Saija who was then the Sub-Deputy Collector of the government had to attend office during the day.

Rupees ten for each player was sufficient to meet transportation expenses, as fare to Guwahati costed only nine rupees.

Following the 1948 tournament, Asem Amuba along with four other Manipuri players namely AK Manihar, Sougaijam Biren, Yangmaso Saija and Fareng Tangkhul were selected to join the Assam Team.

However, Sougaijam Biren alone went to take part in the Santosh Trophy under the Assam Team.

During these days, Nagaland football player T.Aou was a medical student in Calcutta.

The relations between Manipur and Nagaland were also very cordial.

In sports, there were no differences on communal lines, as Tangkhul, Khongsai, Kabui and Meitei players dearly played, toured, dined and stayed together.

Prior to the year 1958, participation of Tangkhuls in football was more than that of other communities.

However, their sports activities began to decline with the emergence of the movements of NSCN.

A new wave for integration of the erstwhile sports clubs in Manipur was visible by the year 1947.Following the victory of Manipur in the Inter-district tournament at Shillong, the All Manipur Sports Association was formed.

By the time the biggest football tournament 'CC Meet' started in 1950, Manipur had fine football players who were even invited to join the Assam team.

All Manipur Sports Association also began to invite teams from outside the state.

In 1952, it invited the Mohun Bagan team to Manipur for matches and coaching.

As a player, Asem Amuba also joined in various sports related tours and programmes at different places.

Amuba who retired from sports in the year 1957 narrated his sporting ordeal during the early 50s.He said although Manipur team got defeat from Assam team in the Inter District Tournament in 1954, Manipur players repulsed the defeat in the Independence Cup in Nagaon by winning the Cup.

Maharaj Bodhachandra happened to witness the final match at Nagaon.

During this time, a number of Manipuri players joined the Assam team.

Sougaijam Biren became a popular goalkeeper of Assam Team which also comprised Manipuris namely Lourembam Shyam (Chingamakha Phuramakhong), Wahengbam Mathang (Sagolband Mantri Leikai), Laishram Nabakumar (Kwakeithel), Oinam Yaiskul (Pishum Oinam Leikai), Sougaijam Somorjit (Yaiskul Sougaijam Leikai), Luikham, Khangembam Joy, Aleng Shimray, Nandeibam Ramjoy, L.Ramkumar, Kabrabam Gopeshor, Sanglakpam Manihar, Luingaini Kabui, Basantakumar Kabui and Chingakham Santikumar.

The octogenarian Asem Amuba, who was working in the Manipur State Transport, recalled that during the 1950s, majority of youths in Manipur were healthy and fit for various sports.

Every locality owned its playground, where the youths used to play regularly.

Young people of his days usually roamed long distances and indulged in games and sports.

Unity and discipline were the rule of those days.

There were no differences on communal considerations.

He had keen belief that only sports could nurture the integrity among the various groups residing in Manipur.