Manipur - Land of Football Temples

Manipur is like a "Land of football temples". Manipur is a very small state and is located in North-Eastern India. It is bordered in the East by Myanmar (Burma), in the west by Assam, in the north by Nagaland and in the southwest by south Myanmar and Mizoram. The population of Manipur is about 2,4 million. It's comprises of population by Meitei and about two dozen different tribes. The people of Manipur are very much found in games and sports. Since time immemorial people of Manipur took keen interest in football.
Nowadays, Manipur has 269 clubs recognized by the AMFA and they show their commitment. Each club has good infrastructure and trainer. Manipur has a perfect 'Multi Sports Complex' like a "Sports Temple" in the place of Khumal Lampak in Imphal. This multi sports complex in Manipur is one of the best in India, maybe even the best.
The 58th Santosh Trophy national championship was hosted by Manipur. The Santosh trophy for state football supremacy was novel on at least two counts. It saw a new champion in Manipur and established a fresh address of excellence in the annals of the popular sport, Manipur hosted the championship for the first time. Manipur won the prestigious trophy displacing one of the traditional powerhouses in Kerala. Last Santosh trophy in Delhi Manipur performance was strong, but unfortunately, Manipur lost against Punjab in tiebreaker in the semifinals.
Football in India thus saw the Manipur state confirm its status as the new patron, opening up possibilities for the sport to flourish in the region that has long history of the tournament. The final outcome was more significant as Manipur and the first state to earn the honour from India and help the region join the nation mainstream through sporting brilliance.
In the end, the title justified the rich sporting tradition of the state, which has football topping the popularity in Manipur. Having already established a monopoly in women's football over the years, the accomplishment by the men helped Manipur complete its supremacy in the sports in India. The Women team of Manipur is still champion in the National championships. The Indian women teams are comprising of 10-12 Manipuri women in each and every years. A pioneering resolution of the AIFF that introduced the 'nativity' rule appeared all the more responsible for helping Manipur to its moment of glory. The new law empowered the participating states to recall their native players for the tournament and this helped the host as it gleaned the best from across the country to confirm its status on top of the National hierarchy.
The main focus of the Manipur is of course, the sport: football: Football is perhaps the only truly global sport. It awakens emotions and passion, it created identifications, it connects different cultures, languages, and religion. And outstanding and great footballers of Manipur those who are playing outside of Manipur for great victory of own Mother land - Renedy Singh, Bijen Singh, Manitombi Singh, Tomba Singh, Surkumar Singh, Dharamjit Singh, Rajesh Meetei, Raju Singh, Ratan Singh, Shanta Singh, Bungo Singh, Lorendro Singh, Santosh Singh, Samson Singh, Jotin Singh, Tiken Singh, James Singh, Gouramangi Singh, Ajit Singh, Momocha Singh, Samananda Singh, Napoleon Singh, Akbar Singh, Chitra Singh, etc. They are much more than idols. They are quite simple symbols of football for Indian professional clubs. They belong to football and fans from across the globe.
A vision of development planning of Manipur football, "people believe football is a matter of life and death.." Much more importance than that with all respect to his trainer strategist that such a statement cannot be allowed to stand. For a start football is not a game of life and death but a game of two goals or sometimes even, a game of just one goal.
Expectations of the great football festival in Manipur are high especially after the championship of Santosh Trophy. All football fans are looking forward to brilliant playing, surprising moves, tactical fitness, tension and entertaiment.
Highly qualified coaches of Manipur are looking forward of developing Manipur football status further, such as - S Ekendra Singh (National football coach), AFC-'A' license holder & technical Director of AMFA, who is got the best coach award from Manipur given by AIFF; Ranjit Roy (secretary of AMFA); Shanti Singh (AFC-'A' license holder); Ksh. Birbal Singh (AFC-'A' license holder); Ratan Singh, Indian coach for women teams (AFC-'B' license holder), etc. They are symbols of football in Manipur being played using negative tactics. Manipur are really hoping for however, is adventurous football, passionate football.
Our vision of Manipur - To become truly Sports Temples which strives towards excellency in Sports and alliance of Science and also serve the cause of all round development of human Personality.