Leihaothabam Inaocha : The man who forsakes everything for the love of football

Seram Neken *

There was no dearth of efficient football players in Manipur during the 1950s and 1960s. L. Inaocha Sharma had a hectic football career from 1955 to 1971. 'ON THE GOLDEN FOOTPRINTS' reproduces here the sports profile of veteran player Leihaothabam. Inaocha from Ratneshwori Goswami's Akao Parei Chankhrabasing published in the Huieyen Lanpao (Manipuri).

Born in 1940, veteran football player Leihaothabam Inaocha Sharma is the son of L. Surjamani Sharma and Nupimacha Devi of Keishamthong Moirang Ningthou Leirak Imphal. According to L. Inaocha, his sporting career started while he was studying in class IX at Churachand School where Oja Sougaijam Biren served as a teacher.

From around 1959, he played for the Yaiskul Athletics Club as a football player for two years before joining the NACO team. In the later period of his sports career, he also played in the Imphal Sporting Club with initiation of Arambam Santoshkumar who was the President of the Club.

As a Manipur team player, he participated in the Assam Inter District tournament held at Shillong in 1960. The team comprising Oinam Yaiskul (Goal Keeper), Moirangthem Tondonba (Stopper), Y. Bidhu (Left Back), Khangembam Joy (Half), RK Bojoy (Half), N. Ramjoy (Left Out), Laishram Ramkumar (Right In), Akoijam Surjit (Centre Forward), Basantakumar Kabui (Left Out), and L. Inaocha (Right Back) brought back the winner trophy. Again in 1961, he took part in the Inter District tournament held at Dibugarh, from where the state team earned runners up title.

In an interview, L. Inaocha narrated the hardships faced by the state team on its road way to Dibugarh as there were landslides on the Dimapur Road by that time. The team had to go by two jeeps – one owned by Oja Elangbam Ibohal and another hired from other. Out of the sixteen players, only eleven including Inaocha were good players.

As Inaocha and AK Surjit were hurt during the semi final matches, the team had to call out players from the state. With the bad transportation hampering the timely arrival of the other players, the Manipur team could not perform well in the final match. It finished with the runners up title during the tournament.

As an Assam state player (junior), L. Inaocha had the opportunity to join in Santosh Trophy held in Orissa in 1965. Inaocha recalled that officials of All Manipur Sports Association such as Ayekpam Biramangol and Hemil Chowdhry took the responsible part for his participation in the trophy.

After fielding for around seven years in NACO, L. Inaocha was suspended from the NACO team due to certain altercation with officials. He was transferred to Eastern Sporting Union which were then managed among others by Huidrom Chandrahsing from Kongba and Former Sports Director Tomcha. The ESU football team was not a strong one by the time he joined it. Some of the players whom he associated in the ESU team were Tejkumar, RK Brojen, Kumar, Meino, Dhananjoi etc.

The Eastern Sporting Union team gradually became popular as it turned out the winner of the CC Meet for the first time in 1967. L. Inaocha felt quite satisfied with the performance of his team in the CC Meet, as the contender in the semi-final match was NACO team which had earlier suspended him.

L. Inaocha was an ardent football player who even skipped entertainments of all hues during his adolescence. Being a bad temper person, there were occasions when he became aggressive during the matches. However, with the proper advice of a referee from Nagaon, Inaocha could learn the calmness and patience in the field.

During his football career, Inaocha participated as Manipur team player for nine times and played once as the Assam team player. According to Inaocha, his favourite mates in the Assam Inter district matches were Moirangthem Tondonba and Y. Bidhu who are no more today.

Along with other colleagues such as Nishikanta, Imo, Kokngangbi, Ibotombi etc., he also fielded in Nagaland football team for some time. Inaocha Sharma who also acted as referee for a brief period actively remained a football player from 1955 to 1971.

For feedbacks email to: nekenseram(at)yahoo(dot)co(dot)in