For the first time, India Senior Men's National Team will set foot at Khuman Lampak Stadium in Imphal, Manipur, as the state is going to host the Hero Tri-Nation Football Friendly from March 20 to 26, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said in Imphal West on Monday.
Biren told mediapersons at a press conference that the matches will be played on March 22, 24, and 26, with the participants of teams from three countries. India will play against Myanmar and the Kyrgyz Republic. In the under-20 women national football, there are seven players from Manipur, he said.
Presently, India ranks 106 in FIFA ranking, Kyrgya Republic at 94 and Myanmar at 159.
“It is a great initiative by the AIFF leadership that we are getting to host International friendly matches in Manipur for the first time in history. From our end, I can assure everyone that the Government of Manipur will do everything to provide the best facilities and facilitate in the successful organisation of the tournament," Biren said, addressing the conference.
AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey and secretary general Shaji Prabhakaran were also present at the press conference. Director, Youth Affairs and Sports, T Phulen, officials of All Manipur Football Association also attended the press conference.
ointing out that Manipur has been a significant contributor in Indian Football, inclduing women's football, Biren said, "Manipur has provided many International players for the National Team. It is indeed an honour to host the tournament and further encourage our players and sports enthusiasts".
Biren said the likes of Renedy Singh, Gouramangi Singh, Udanta Singh, Amarjit Kiyam, Suresh, Jeakson and lots more have all set the international stage alight and held the standards of Manipur football high on the national and international stages. Players like Bala Devi, who is one of the best strikers of this generation, captain Ashalata Devi, Dangmei Grace, Elangbam Panthoi Chanu and many more have made the country proud time and again, he said.
Expressing gratitude to the All India Football Federation, Biren also requested the AIFF’s assistance in establishing a top-class academy in Manipur,
“I would also like to request the AIFF for its assistance in establishing a football academy of global standards in Manipur, where we can nurture the talented boys and girls from the state and set their course for further development.”
This will be the first time that the India Senior National Team will be playing in Imphal, Manipur, at Khuman Lampak Stadium, which was built in 1999 and has a capacity of 35,000.
The CM appealed to the people to grasp the opportunity stating that the government is also planning to set up a football academy. Biren further said the coming Tri-Nation Friendly tournament will be managed under a committee where he will be the chairman of the committee.
The AIFF president said the federation is pleased with the response of Chief Minister N Biren Singh for organizing the tournament. He said Manipur is a football loving state and since the starting of National Football League from 1995-96 at least one football player from Manipur has been there in any football club across the country.
Chaubey said AIFF will be providing technical support in collaboration with All Manipur Football Association (AMFA) with overall hosting by the Manipur government. He said with the technical support from AIFF and overall support from Manipur government, the talented football players of Manipur can be nurtured properly to international level.
