Future of Manipur football becoming dimmer day by day : Gouramangi
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 07 2012:
Even though Manipur is stated to be the power house of sports in India, the future of football in Manipur is becoming dimmer day by day, said international footballer and member of Indian Football team M Gouramangi today.
Speaking on the sideline of a friendly match between MSL team AIM and Manipuri players playing in other Indian clubs and states at Liberal College Ground, Luwang-sangbam, Gouramangi said that the scenario of football has changed so much in today's world.
In the past players from Manipur could easily become part of the Indian team.
Unfortunately, the situation has changed today and Manipuri players are getting a hard time in becoming part of the Indian team.
While other states are taking full interest in football by providing better facilities to their players with the establishment of football academies, Manipur is still following the orthodox style of organising tournaments here and there.
Only practicing and participating in local tournaments will not do the magic of facing the great challenge lying ahead.
Players of the state need to exposed to the changing scenario of football and they should be sent to professional academies to get further knowledge of football.
Worried with the future of football in the state, players hailed from Manipur and now playing at different clubs and states have taken up the decision to play friendlies in the state during their off season to give a boost to the morale of the players as well as an inspirational steps towards a bright future of football in the state, he said.
He also welcomed any local clubs who want to organise such friendlies with the team comprised of state players playing in other clubs.
The AIM team includes star players like Jimmy, Gouro, Manimohon and Ratan.
While the other team was comprised of Sushilkumar, Chitra and Govind of Shillong Lajong, Naoba and Charan Rai of East Bengal, Gouramangi and Dhanachandra of Prayag United, James Jr of Mumbai FC, Dharamjeet of Southern Kolkata, M Bijen and Rolendro etc.