BENGALURU: Manipur United FC (MUFC), a team consisting mainly of Manipur players, lifted the champion’s trophy in the first edition of the Namma Bengaluru League 7s.
The tournament is one of the most prestigious 7s football tournaments in Bangaluru, conducted at the grand Bangalore Football Stadium under floodlights.
The tournament is conducted on weekends, over a period of two months in a league-cum-knockout format. In the final match, MUFC, playing the tournament under the name, Weekend Warriors FC, beat Abhayam FC 2-1.
The tournament had 16 teams participating from around Bengaluru and were clubbed into two groups.
MUFC topped their group in the league stage, dropping only 3 points from the total available 21 points. In the quarter final, MUFC beat Lake Road FC on penalties and then went on a goal scoring spree in the semifinal beating Kudlu FC 6-0.
In the final match against Abhayam FC, MUFC shrugged off the initial shock of conceding a goal at the very start of the game and went on to win the game 2-1.
MUFC not only pocketed the winning amount of Rs 1 lakh and trophy, but also took home the top scorer and best goalkeeper award.
MUFC is the brainchild of Danny Khumlo, a corporate lawyer, who is the captain and goalkeeper of the team.
MUFC is a Bengaluru-based football community consisting mostly of Manipur boys who till recently were plying their trade for different clubs in Manipur but have now moved to Bangaluru looking for clubs.
MUFC members are from diverse communities – Meitei, Meitei Pangal, Kuki, Aanal, Chiru, Kom etc.
MUFC’s aim is to keep the Manipur players in Bengaluru connected, create a common platform for players to disseminate information and help each other. MUFC also provides help and support to its members in difficult times.
MUFC is also actively involved in highlighting the plight of sportspersons in Manipur because of the on-going violence and spreading the message of peace for Manipur.
MUFC assisted a major newspaper in Bengaluru to cover the plight of Manipur footballers because of the violence, in one of its July editions and continues to provide support for more such stories.
In all, MUFC’s matches, it is common to see a banner in the ground appealing for peace in Manipur.
Since its inception this May, several MUFC members have signed up with local clubs in Bengaluru like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Young Challengers FC, Rebels FC, Parikrama FC etc.
