Longjam Tombi : Better known as Sagol Tombi or Tiger of NACO team

Seram Neken *

'ON THE GOLDEN FOOTPRINTS' reproduces here the sports profile of veteran player Longjam Tombi from Ratneshwori Goswami's Akao Parei Chankhrabasing published in the Hueiyen Lanpao (Manipuri).

Longjam Tombi Singh, was born to Longjam Tomchou and Gourisana Devi of Keishamthong Longjam Leirak Imphal. As an all rounder who played Football, Hockey and Athletics, he had great enthusiasm in games and sports. He began his education from the so called Ucha Prima (UP) at Elangbam Leikai Imphal and later became a student of Johnston school. Tombi started his sporting career by 1952 when he was studying in class VII.

In an interview, the veteran player narrated that during his time, Tangkhul Football players were very prominent in Manipur. He mentioned the names of Baorei and Sangam, the Tangkhul players who were somewhat senior to him. "When I entered the sporting career, I met the well known players such as Sougaijam Tamo Dhiren, Brajamani, Tamo AK Manihar, Nongmaithem Oja Rebati, Nongmaithem Giri, Lamabam Iboton, Huidrom Baruni, Hodam Mohan Babu and Sougaijam Biren", he said adding that they were the players of Town Club.

By 1952, L. Tombi joined in the sports team of Johnston School, the headmaster of which was Oja Kalachand Sastri and Games Teacher was Oja Mangi. In the same year, he fielded in the Inter college meet on behalf of Johnston school along with Selungba from Khangempalli Huidrom Leikai, RK Sanatomba from Yaiskul, Memchou Keishing, Dr. Aboi, Boucha from Churachandpur, Thongam Brajabidhu and Ningombam Ibobi from Thangmeiband.

He recalled, "The price of a boot by that time was less than rupees two. We used to practice Football at the Pologround and Manipur Rifles ground." When he attended class VIII, Tombi joined the Kuki Sporting Club along with his contemporary Sougaijam Lalitkumar and a senior Brajamani Singh. For some time, he was also in the Kakhulong Club with the initiation of Aboi.

Narrating the story of establishment of NACO, Longjam Tombi stated that he initiated the idea of establishing a sporting club at the Nambul Mapal area. As per discussion with other fellows, it was decided to name the club as 'National Athletics and Cultural Organisation'. Y. Nabakumar from Khangempalli Huidrom Leikai was selected to be the first secretary of the club.

On the way to All Manipur Sports Association (AMSA) for obtaining affiliation, Tombi met Elangbam Ibohal who not only advised him to change the name to 'Nambul Mapal Athletics and Cultural Organisation', but also spent rupees nine from his pocket as admission fee to AMSA. Thus the NACO came into existence with Longjam Tombi's initiative.

The first Football team of NACO comprising Selungba, Huidrom Bhubon, Sougaijam Dhiren, Longjam Robindro, Longjam Tombi and others played its maiden match with a Kuki team, in which the NACO team won the match. NACO team became the first team which participated in invitation tournament organized outside Manipur. It was also the first team which won the CC Meet in 1956 by defeating the Kuki Sporting Club. In this year, Naba from Kwakeithel and Syama from Chingamakha joined the NACO club. Longjam Tombi along with Baorei, Sangam, Zed Romeo, Brajamani, Ng. Jugindrakumar, Yangkha Hao etc. participated in Assam Inter District tournament held in Guwahati in 1953.

"Once there was an occasion in which a big scuffle broke out with the Manipuri players in Guwahati. During the match played against the Guwahati Town Club, some spectators threw stones to goal keeper Jugindrakumar who in turn repulsed the attack by punching some of the spectators. The match was replayed after negotiations in presence of AMSA organizers who swiftly fled to Guwahati on hearing the news", Longjam Tombi who played Football for a long time from 1953 to 1964 under the Manipur Eleven team stated.

Regarding his involvement in Hockey, Tombi said he played Hockey from 1957 to 1968. The veteran player recalled that he took part in All Assam Inter district tournament in Shillong, where his team won champions against Aizawl team by 2-1 goals. In the Rangaswami Senior national Hockey Championship, Manipur Eleven team comprising Ksh. Ibohal, Ng. Jugindrokumar, W. Nilamani, Sanasam Kunjabihari, Ng. Mani, GA Tomchoubi, G. Gouramadhov, RK Sanajaoba and Longjam Tombi represented the Assam state.

In 1959, he was in the Manipur Hockey team under captainship of Helim Chowdhry, that lifted champions title in Assam Inter district Hockey tournament. In 1963, Longjam Tombi who played in Half position went to participate in Beighton Cup. According to Tombi, those who efficiently played Hockey during his time were S. Lokeshwar, S. Kunjabihari, Arambam Lokendro, Laishram Nabakumar, Ibotombi (Jugindro), P. Jugin, Moirangthem Kholei, T. Gambhirchand, Kh. Manglem, Ibotombi Sharma and Tombi himself.

In 1968, he along with Jugindro, Ibotombi, Lokeshwar Th Sunil, G. Dijwamani Sharma, Kh. Suren, P. Ibochou and Yumkham Madneshore (Babu) participated in the Assam Inter district tournament held at Nilgiri Hills. Longjam Tombi also fielded under the Manipuri Rajbari Sports club in Guwahati along with Laishram Naba of Kwakeithel for a brief period.

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