Gaimeibung : Tomorrow will come because of today
- Saluting The Veterans -

Ratneshwori Goswami *

A Group photo of Zeliangrong Sporting Club in 1966 (with Gaimeibung inset) :: Pix - Hueiyen Lanpao

"I was one of the players who boarded a Dekota plane in 1959. I felt happier when I realised that I am going to play in Agartala sitting on a plane rather than the excitement of sitting on the flight. That memory makes me laugh now, those days were beautiful" said veteran Football player of Manipur Gaimeibung Kamei.

One of the famous veteran football players of Zeliangrong community, Gaimeibung was born as the fourth son to Gaikimlak Kamei and Kalimu Kamei in November 1939 in Namthalong Village of Thangmeiband.

Gaimeibung recalled that it was beyond imagination how much he loved football during his childhood. They loved to play in the rain. They plucked pummelo/citrus grandis, locally known as nobab and played at the village ground until it was tattered. Gaimeibung started playing since he was 9/10 years old. "Every young and old used to play at small ground where Thangmeiband Thau Ground exists" said Gaimeibung.

Seniors taught them first and even veteran Tangkhul football players left nothing to make them adapted in football. Ningthoujam Brajamani, veteran player who represented in Manipur Eleven coached them when they went to Mumbai.

Schooled from Residential High School Chingmeirong, shifted to Adult School, Khuyathong from Class VI and passed out Class X from Khabam Ebemcha High School, Gaimeibung struggled with study while playing football at the same time which took him time to enter in College. "I had two children when I first entered DM College. I continued my study and never stopped playing football even after marriage", Gaimeibung said.

Gaimeibung started playing at Senior Division in 1955. He played at Zeliangrong Sporting Club before joining Nisha Club, Thangmeiband. "There were no discrimination at that time and all communities including Meetei, Mayang including Bengalis played together. Chingmeirong Borbabu, Nandeibam Ramjoy, Khuyathong Ibocha, Khurai Bidhu, Tomba all played with Zeliangrong Club and Zeliangrong Sporting Club’s hard practicing bagged the winner title of CC Meet in 1965 against TRAU" the veteran recalled.

In 1960 football movement became unbelievably famous in Manipur. Brajamani, Thangjam Modhu, seniors of AMSA, Benudhar, Rebati, Biren were some of those who contributed their best in Sports. Their seniors knew well which coach should be called and what training should be given to them. "Manipur players were one of the best at that time though we were born in small ponds; lack of exposures made the situation worse" said Gaimeibung adding that they benefitted a lot after S Mewalal coached them.

"We represented North East and emerged as East Zone Champion in the 1959 National School Games defeating Andhra Pradesh in which Ajang Kabui scored a goal. Teacher Modhu was so happy on that day and immediately sent a telegram to Chief Commissioner Manipur. Manipuri singer (L) Pahari who was learning music from SD Burman at that time also came to meet us. We were felicitated with gold coin of two tullas each in Manipur in that year. But that the coin vanished in 1962 while Namthalong village was engulfed by an inferno " repented Gaimeibung.

Nisha Club was Gaimeibung’s favourite even though he played for around three years only. He tried his best to uplift the Club in Division A. Everyone co-operated with each other while discussing Sports, he recalled. While saying that Sports in Manipur will improve a lot he believes that after few years no state will dominate Manipur in sports.

"Manipuris have been born as sports persons, there is something behind on saying that Manipur is the Power House of Sports" he said.

Gaimeibung played football for around 10 years and he still holds the memoirs of those young days where there were many tournaments like "Under Five Feet." The veteran player could not stop laughing when he remembers those days where they used to tighten their waists with belts so that their height could be below five feet.

Gaimeibung entered Services in 1968 and retired in 2002. After retirement from sports and becoming a pensioner, he was honoured by All Manipur Football Association in 2008.

He was also honoured with a citation and a shawl on the last day of 48th CC Meet by former Governor of Manipur SS Sidhu. His honesty and open mindedness forced the people to choose him as the Chief of Namthalong Village.

His message to the young generation: "Today exists because of yesterday and tomorrow will come because of today. If youngsters do not respect their elders then their success will not last long. They should not hold egoism in sports."

Still living with those memoirs of old days the veteran wishes to promote indigenous games of Manipur like Mukna, Thang-Ta since most indigenous communities of Manipur plays these games since time immemorial .