Cuttack: Manipur are a mighty force to reckon with in Indian women’s football since the last couple of decades. They have been dominating the game completely and have always been a barrier that the Orissa eves have failed to break in national level competitions. Thursday also did not prove to be an exception as they again defeated Orissa to win the Junior Girls’ national football championships here.
The coach of the Manipur girls’ team M Surmala Chan informed that a strong club culture has been the secret behind their success. “We have five-six strong football clubs in the state. They organise a number of tournaments at the grassroots level and select the best players from these competitions. Club football is pretty competitive and all the players for the various state sides – senior and junior – are selected on the basis of their performances in the tournaments. We always have a pool of good players,” Chan said before the team’s departure, Friday.
The coach also said that her players have also mastered the art of playing short passes. “Compared to other states, our players are more skillful in playing short passes because the coordination and understanding is good. Being from the hilly terrain, we are born tough. So we are always able to beat the others with our speed,” she pointed out.
“We have also some dedicated coaches and they take good care of our wards. The Manipur Football Association also organises number of tournaments in different age groups throughout the year and nurture the budding talents very well,” she added.
Captain of the Manipur side, Rosa however, was quick to point out that Orissa are improving rapidly. “They are very good fighters and whenever we play, they give us a tough fight.”
Press Trust of India
