58th National Football Championship for LG Santosh Trophy, 2002 | Oct 17 - Nov 05, Imphal - Manipur
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Santosh Trophy News
Thirty thousand home fans versus opponent/s
(The Sangai Express) 01 November 2002, 08:30 IST

None can deny the fact State football team had to over come some nerve wracking moments in the quarterfinal match against Tamil Nadu to scrape through to the semi finals of the ongoing 58th National Football Championship for the LG Santosh Trophy 2002 at Imphal.

Why Manipur did not go for the final kill with the two men advantage and satisfy the thousands of hungry fans can be best explained by the man in charge of the team. Considering the composition of the team that include players from the top clubs of the country and talent and versatility of the remaining others, there is no reason why the present side cannot annex the prestigious title and ring the bell of the arrival of a State that has long been producing quality players but never ever won a major tournament of the country.

The huge home crowd support that throngs the stadium, every time State team is scheduled to play, will be a big asset in the team armory which can unsettle the opponent how strong they might be. No doubt Manipur have made their maiden entry to the semi final stage of the tournament this time around and players will be accorded heroic status but the thirst of the avid football enthusiast can be satisfied only by lifting the top title.

The State, at present is somewhat like the situation that gripped the South Korea-Japan organized World Cup 2002, especially with the performance of the former. Expectant South Korean people, despite knowing that history was created when they entered the last four stages craved for more and losing at the semi final to the resilient German team was accepted without any bad feeling or lamentation.

While comparison cannot be drawn with the World Cup, winning the LG Santosh Trophy by the hosts will provide the much needed thrust to propel Manipur into a new era in the Indian soccer scenario besides developing renewed interest amongst upcoming players to the most popular game in the world.

Considering the performances of other teams which have reached the semi final stage, Manipur playing to its full potential and flow will be the hardest nut to crack for the opponents. M Bijen Singh along with L Tiken Singh spearheading the offence, with quality and hard working players like L James, Kennedy, W Tomba, Kh Sanaton feeding them with the required ammunition can beat any team on a given day.

The defence line with the tall skipper Kh Ratan, L Uttamkumar Singh, Manitombi and N Uttam were also taught a tough lesson by the speedy Tamil Nadu side after playing the earlier schedules with relative ease against weaker opponents. Its next hurdle for the final berth in the form of last year's finalists Goa will be a keen contest and with most players having the experience of playing for Goan clubs will know the strength and weaknesses of their opponent.

Checking the speed and guile of Goan strikers especially Nitin Pradhan and denying maneuvering space to Savio Pereira, Menino Fernandes and Jules Dias Alberto will be vital if any positive result is expected from the contest. Only after the November 2 clash will the picture be clear as to who will play the final on November 5 against the winner of defending champion Kerala and Services tomorrow.

The resilience of the Services side will be put to test against the flamboyance of defending champion Kerala led by Asif Saheer, Abdul Hakeem and Ignatius. Kerala also have to be wary of the nippy Preetam Bahadur to keep its hope alive of retaining the title.

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