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| Manipur team members pose for a group photograph |
Imphal : The Manipur football team left for Orissa on Monday to take part in the 66th Santosh Trophy National Football Championship.
The Manipur team had lasted their practice session for nearly a month at the Main Stadium football field of Khuman Lampak Sports Complex here.
The tournament is being held from May 11 to May 27. Pitted in the Group B in the quarte final league stage of the tournament with a favorite team Goa and winner teams of Cluster three and five. Manipur will open their campaign with a match against winner of cluster three on May 18. As Manipur stood 2nd in the last edition, their campaign will start from the quarter final league. In the last edition, Manipur lost to Bengal 1-2 in final.
Though former international Kh. Surmani, the coach hoped that the team would perform well, he said the some of the experienced players missed for the team as they were not able to attend the trial due to their injuries.
All Manipur Football Association had selected 20 players for the championship — 15 from within the state and the rest outstation players from different parts of country, only 9 players, including turned up for the practice sessions and made the satisfaction for team preparation.
Surmani felt that it was better to have all the players assembled here and practised together.
He said the outstation players get regular exposure and, being experienced players, they were able to adapt quickly to the playing XI. The team would have no problem in operating as an unit in the tournament that lays ahead, he added.
“Of course, we will get a minimum of two days’ practice before the first match,” the coach said. With proper teamwork the squad can bring the prestigious Santosh Trophy home once again, he added.
The team was flagged off by A Santosh Kumar, President All Manipur Football Association from the premises of the association this morning. In the flagged off ceremony, senior members of the association were present. All the team members were spirited with the valued words from the presidents and senior members.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: S Basanta Singh (United Sikkim), L Premkumar Singh (Langshing Shillong), M Raj Singh (Neroca)
Defenders: M Govin Singh (United Sikkim), Syed Farid (United Sikkim), K Naoba Singh (AR),
K James Singh (Royal Wahingdo Shillong), L Chandramani (AIM), K Priyokumar Singh (MPSC), L Ratan Singh (NISA)
Midfielders:
L Nabachandra (Langshing Shillong), Th Priyokumar (ASEB), I Ajit Singh
(Assam Rifles), Ph Boy Singh (Royal Wahingdo Shillong), L Chaothoiba
(Assam Rifles), E Abocha Singh (TRAU), L Gouro Singh (AIM).
Forwards: Kh Thoi Singh (united Sikkim), Kh Naoton Singh (AIM), Th Vandona Singh (Neroca) .
All Manipur Football Association treasurer L. Dinamai is accompanying the squad as team manager.
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