Imphal, Oct. 11 (EMN): Manipur Chief Minister, Nongthombam Biren Singh on Wednesday said the state will have an International standard football field before the commencement of I-league tournament next month once the ongoing rejuvenation works at Khuman Lampak main stadium is completed. The field will also be equipped with flood lighting systems.
Singh accompanied by youth affairs and sports commissioner H Deleep and director N Praveen and others inspecting the ongoing renovation works at the stadium also lamented for not preparing a standard football field with necessary infrastructure prior to the ongoing U-17 FIFA World Cup which is underway across six venues since October 6.
“Our state could host at least a single match of the ongoing world cup if we have the required infrastructure in advance,” Biren who himself was a national level footballer before joining politics, lamented. “Despite having a good number of players from our state, we couldn’t watch a single match here.”
Manipur contributes as many as 8 players in the 21-member Indian football squad participating in the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup.
He said Manipur is crazy for football, so as per the wishes of the people the government is planning to develop 2-3 playgrounds (one each in Imphal East, Imphal West and Thoubal district) by laying astro turf (artificial turf) in the state soon so that the players could play football all around the season. He said directive has been given to the concerned officials to prepare a detailed project report on the matter
On the concluding day of Manipur Police Quasquicentennial Football Cup 2017 on Tuesday Biren Singh hailed the Indian Football Team for their wonderful performance in the ongoing U-17 World Cup.
Meanwhile Jackson’s father Deben Thounaojam (53) after watching his son’s historic performance during the India-Columbia match on Monday night, speaking to this reporter on phone on Tuesday said, “We are so happy for a moment thinking that the result of the match will be a draw. But it was shattered after their (Columbia) victory score.” “I feel sorry about it,” he added.
