( Source: AFC)
Tucked away in the northeast corner of India, bordering the Myanmar jungles on its right, is Manipur, a state that though part of the world’s largest democracy, is also a law unto itself.
By Nazvi Careem
KUALA LUMPUR: Tucked away in the northeast corner of India, bordering the Myanmar jungles on its right, is Manipur, a state that though part of the world’s largest democracy, is also a law unto itself.
Manipur is regarded as the badlands of India and its sporting culture is also incongruous with the country at large.
A billion people in India follow cricket with a passion. But for Manipur’s population of 2.4 million, football is king.
The people’s love for football is the reason Project Manipur is the most successful element of AFC’s Vision India programme so far.
Launched three years ago, Manipur has a thriving State League and the sport is being developed by a committed regional governing body, the All Manipur Football Association (AMFA).
Brendan Menton, AFC’s Vision Asia director, said the state had a good football infrastructure even before Project Manipur started.
“I think the reason for the success of Manipur is because there was already an excellent structure in place for coaching, education and grassroots programmes and what Vision India has done is built on these platforms,” said Menton.
The AMFA is filled with dedicated and professional officials, who are able to carry out the ideals of Vision India with the minimum of supervision and according to guidelines set out by the AFC.
The main beneficiary of Manipur’s footballing culture has been the Indian national team, who fielded six players from the state in the squad who won the AFC Challenge Cup last month.
That triumph, achieved via a 4-1 win over Tajikistan in the final on home soil, allowed India to qualify for the 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar.
Because of their victory, the whole national team has been promised a cash reward of Rs100,000 by Manipur Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh.
In all, more than 200 players from Manipur have represented India at national level over the past 30 years.
Players from the state are also targeted by big clubs from other parts of India, such as East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Md. Sporting Union, Air India, Services and Churchil Brothers, among others.
Manipur is one of four regions taking part in Vision India, which comes under the overall AFC Vision Asia programme to raise the standard of football at all levels across the continent.
The four are: Manipur, Kerela, Chennai and Dehli. Vision India Project Director Imtiaz Ur-Rehman on Friday left for India to visit the four state football associations and provide them with additional support.
Manipur is regarded as the badlands of India and its sporting culture is also incongruous with the country at large.
A billion people in India follow cricket with a passion. But for Manipur’s population of 2.4 million, football is king.
The people’s love for football is the reason Project Manipur is the most successful element of AFC’s Vision India programme so far.
Launched three years ago, Manipur has a thriving State League and the sport is being developed by a committed regional governing body, the All Manipur Football Association (AMFA).
Brendan Menton, AFC’s Vision Asia director, said the state had a good football infrastructure even before Project Manipur started.
“I think the reason for the success of Manipur is because there was already an excellent structure in place for coaching, education and grassroots programmes and what Vision India has done is built on these platforms,” said Menton.
The AMFA is filled with dedicated and professional officials, who are able to carry out the ideals of Vision India with the minimum of supervision and according to guidelines set out by the AFC.
The main beneficiary of Manipur’s footballing culture has been the Indian national team, who fielded six players from the state in the squad who won the AFC Challenge Cup last month.
That triumph, achieved via a 4-1 win over Tajikistan in the final on home soil, allowed India to qualify for the 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar.
Because of their victory, the whole national team has been promised a cash reward of Rs100,000 by Manipur Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh.
In all, more than 200 players from Manipur have represented India at national level over the past 30 years.
Players from the state are also targeted by big clubs from other parts of India, such as East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Md. Sporting Union, Air India, Services and Churchil Brothers, among others.
Manipur is one of four regions taking part in Vision India, which comes under the overall AFC Vision Asia programme to raise the standard of football at all levels across the continent.
The four are: Manipur, Kerela, Chennai and Dehli. Vision India Project Director Imtiaz Ur-Rehman on Friday left for India to visit the four state football associations and provide them with additional support.
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