Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has distributed cheques of Rs 3 lakh each to all participating teams of the 14th Manipur State League 2021 at his office secretariat at Babupara, Imphal on Friday.
The 15 teams who have received the cheques amount of Rs 3 lakh each are DM Rao Sekmai, GSC Churachandpur, SSU Singjamei, YUFC Ukhrul, SU Sagolband, KLASA Keinou, KIYC Kshetrigao, MPSC Police HQ, NISA Thangmeiband, Muvanlai Athletics, AIM Khabam, YPHU Lalambung Makhong, NACO Nambul Mapal, AFC Thoubal and UKB Churachandpur.
Two more teams who have featured in the Hero I-League namely, Neroca FC Sangakpham and TRAU FC have been provided Rs 1 crore each along with a women team KRYPSA Naoremthong, who have participated in the Indian Women League with the same amount for making it to the national level.
CM Biren said, “As a priority of the state government and as I have been a footballer, I had a long yearning dream to help out clubs. This seems to be fulfilled today with the distribution of some monetary help to them. Team building by a club is not an easy task and participating in league and tournament, the hardships faced by clubs officials is enormous and somewhat beyond the imagination of all”.
"To extend some financial help to the clubs from the state government side, we have distributed Rs 3 lakh each to 16 teams of Manipur State League and Rs 1 crore each to Hero I-League teams, including Neroca FC and TRAU FC. The same amount has also been extended to KRYPSA Naoremthong as well.
Not only football or hockey, we will try to extend all possible financial help to other disciplines in the time to come," Biren said.
He also appealed to the All Manipur Football Association in trying to make Sir Churachand Singh Football Tournament(CC Meet) to upgrade into an International level tournament as there is proper ground, provision of floodlight and standard hotel accomodation is available now. The same applies to the Hockey Association, to make use of the floodlight and astro turf ground, to attract foreign teams as well, which in turn will infuse new zeal to the young sportspersons of the state, he said.
The chief minister further added that an amount of Rs 15 lakh will be marked in the budget for CC Meet. The scholarship allowance of Rs 200 provided to sportspersons will be increased to Rs 500. This has already been announced and the same will be reflected in the budget.
