Need to intensify grassroots football development program stressed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 19 2017: Manipur's football experts expressed the need to intensify regular grassroots football development programme across the State in a move to explore young talents in producing quality footballers in days to come.

"We need to identify young talents and give necessary training the way the European countries are practising since many years ago," said State Government's consultant and former Commissioner Dr RK Nimai Singh, a football expert.

"We also need to introduce popular footballers besides coaches in developing young footballers."

concluding function of 15 days grassroots football development programme

Football expert Dr RK Nimai who is actively involve in grooming women football here was speaking at the concluding function of 15 days grassroots football development programme which was started from January 5 this year at Thangmeiband Athletic Union (THAU) ground on Thursday.

The football development programme was organised with the active participation of more than 140 children aged 6-14 years.

Former Sports Director W Bhaktaraj Singh, president of THAU, Dr K Arunkanta and senior football coach (Retd) Th Dhanabir Singh who were the functional president and guests of honour of the concluding function, also shared their experiences.

On January 10, a number of I-league players from Manipur including Gouramangi, Malemnganba and other players from Japan, Nigeria and State favourite NEROCA FC players interacted with the young footballers during the programme wherein the visiting I-League players urged the young players to give their best in whatever endeavours they choose and set the sky as the limit.

The objective of the programme is to groom football players from the grassroots in the State which is currently having more than 200 footballers playing for the premier football clubs of the country, according to VSAI secretary Hawaibam Imo.