Gouramangi Moirangthem – Indian Football
The Indian International organized a three day camp at his hometown in Manipur to promote the sport despite being entangled by a very hectic schedule.
Gouramangi Moirangthem, Indian Player of the Year organized a three day football camp in his home town of Avangsekmai in Manipur, to promote the sport to the young footballers in order to share his success with the young kids so that he can encourage and inspire them to take up the game seriously.
Let’s have a brief brush up about the player. Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh currently plays for the I-League Champions, Churchill Brothers. He is a central back and has been rated highly especially for his ball winning abilities in the air. Gouramangi was voted as the best defender in the I-League for the 2008-2009 season. In 2010, an Australian based club, Melbourne Heart, were interested in the defender and called him up for the trials. Despite the impressive performance, nothing really worked out as it was made clear that Gouramangi would not get a chance to feature in the 1st team in the presence of other stars. Also, in 2007, Singh played a pivotal role in India’s Nehru Cup Triumph, beating Syria in Finals.
Coming back, the defender wants to do something for the sport in the country which has given him success and fame. Gouramangi stated “I am not a minister or someone very influential to make a change for that matter. I just want to do some community service and give something back to the game because of which I have made a name for myself.”
“This is the least I can do as an I-League player. If a boy is talented and wants to be a footballer, I will be more than happy to support the expenses throughout the year. What’s the big deal in giving a few sports boots to a budding player? I can even ask some other players to help me in this.
“All I want to say is one must do his bit for the game and this is my humble beginning. Some may think I am doing this for my own fame but that is certainly not the point here.”
For all those who are not aware, the Indian International hasn’t had proper rest for almost two seasons as he went for trials in Australia last summer before joining the Asia Cup Preparation Camp. Wondering what is it that drives the Manipuri to showcase all this? Well a simple answer to this could be the dedication, love and respect for the sport. By now we should be very clear with the answer, but let us see what the Manipuri has to say about his desire to organize such camps despite being denied proper rest for a long time.
Gouramangi said “When I went to Australia, I saw that their seventeen and eighteen year olds were technically so sound. Some of the things which I learnt at a later age, they were already perfectionists in it. This is primarily because they started training and playing at an early age with the right coaching.”
“This has inspired me to do what I can so that kids take up the game early.”
The defender has given 200 football kits to the kids and is very thankful to the Football Players Association of India (FPAI) for helping to promote such a Nobel cause.
He said “I am very thankful to FPAI as Bhai (Bhaichung), Anuj Kichlu and late Debanjan Sen for helping us out. I would like to thank Khanna Sports who gave us 40 balls at no cost.”
The defender also admitted that the young kids are really serious about their football and is showing signs of improvement and development in the country, with many young talents being spotted at the camp.
The Indian Player of the Year further added “It was raining on the first day and still we had around 120 kids who came for the training which starts at 7 am. In fact, most of the youngsters had come by 6 am as they were very excited about this programme. Some had come from the next town as well riding their bicycles.”
“We start with a warm-up and thereafter we divide the kids into smaller groups wherein we have some ex-players as part of each unit. “Thereafter Chitra Singh, Abhiraj, a boy who was with me at Tata Football Academy, and I mix-up with each group and interact with the kids. We have seen some good talented boys too.”
It is indeed heartening to hear such efforts on part of the Indian Players to promote football in India. Few Indian Players have stepped up to organize such camps on a regular basis to do their bit for the game and find some talents which will take Indian Football a step further. The AIFF should also lend a helping hand in promoting the game and thereby help India become a known face in the World of Football.
Tags: AIFF, Churchill Brothers, Football, Gouramangi Moirangthem, I-League, Indian Football, Manipur, Sport
