Imphal, May 1, 2017 (DIPR): “OORJA” Central Armed Police Forces U-19 Talent Hunt Football Tournament 2017, started today at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium, Imphal. The tournament is an initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a prelude to the U-17 FIFA World Cup to be held in New Delhi in October, 2017. The tournament is organised by IGAR (South) in association with All Manipur Football Association and Department of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of Manipur, under the aegis of All India Police Sports Control Board. The tournament, which had its curtain raiser on 28th April, is mainly organised to encourage young boys and girls to develop their inherent talent in the field of football to achieve the aim of “Mission XI Million Football Players”. The tournament to be held in three phases – State level, Zonal Level and National Level will select promising players to represent India at the Asian Championship and also to recruit them in the CAPF.
Speaking as the Chief Guest of the function, Governor Dr. Najma Heptulla, said that, the boys and girls of Manipur have excelled in games and sports bringing numerous laurels from national and international tournaments thus getting the sobriquet “Power House” of sports. In almost every big football club, one can come across Manipuri football players significantly and also in Services, she added. Games and sports create a platform for moulding the personality of a person besides providing oneness, team spirit, sportsmanship and fellow feeling among the participants. In any game one wins and one loses. One should not always think of winning the game but play in true spirit of a sportsmanship. The tournament will inculcate and fulfil all these objectives and will nurture the budding talents of the state, she further added. She also said that the initiatives taken up by the Government of India in the recent past in the field of games and sports will boost up the future of all sports loving persons of the country.
In his speech as Guest of Honour, Deputy CM, Shri Y. Joykumar said that the quality of football in the state has gone down comparing to other North East states. There is lack of international standard coaches to guide the players to flourish in the field, he added. Lack of proper infrastructure also added to the downfall of the quality of the football game. There is necessity to build a football ground in each district to encourage the youths to join the sports of football in the state, he added.
Olympiad Smt L. Sarita Devi, International football players P. Rennedy and O. Bembem were also present in the opening ceremony along with Civil and Top Police officials. P. Rennedy and O. Bembem rendered oath to the participants of the tournament. The winner of the tournament will be given a running trophy along with a cash prize of Rs. 50,000/- each to the girls and boys team in the name of the international players. Kangchup Road Youth Physical Sports Association (KRYPHSA) won the opening match against Eastern Sporting Union (ESU) with 4 goals. The tournament which kicks off today will continue till 10th of this month with a total of eight (8) girls and boys team taking part. (DIPR)
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