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For the first time in the history of football, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) will be hosting the Hero tri-nation international friendly football tournament in Imphal featuring India, Kyrgyzstan and Myanmar from March 20 to the 28th this year.
This is also the first the Indian national football team will be playing in Manipur soil.
Announcing this in a press meet, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said ‘the state is fortunate to have such an event here acknowledging the contribution by our talented players’.
The Indian men’s football team is ranked 106th in FIFA ranking while Kyrgyzstan and Myanmar are ranked 94th and 159th.
Seeking the cooperation and support from the public in hosting the upcoming football matches, Biren Singh also read out a few names of the past and present footballers from Manipur who have represented the country in international competitions.
Expressing happiness over the state Chief Minister’s response to the upcoming event during the press conference, AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey said, “We want to host for the first time the India national team match here. You’ve sent your players to represent the Indian national team. But never ever has the Indian national team come and played here.”
Stating that the state government will handle the overall hosting of the tri-nation friendly, he said the AIFF will provide the technical support in collaboration with the All Manipur Football Association.
“So I assure that AIFF will put all the possible sports, science and technical coaches available here to find the maximum talent from Manipur soil to take them to the international level. That’s the reason we come here to announce this,” Chaubey added.
Kalyan Chaubey also informed that the Manipur government can open a football academy. “I can assure that AIFF will put its best foot forward so that every talent available in Manipur can be nurtured properly,” he added.
On losing charm of football championships in the country including Manipur’s popular CC Meet tourney, AIFF President Chaubey said that they’re trying their best to revive these tournaments including Bengaluru Stafford Challenge Cup, Bordoloi Trophy etc.
The finals of the Santosh trophy will be played overseas at Riyadh after its other matches in five different zones, he added.
AIFF General Secretary Shaji Prabhakaran and Director (Youth Affairs and Sports)T Phulen and President(AMFA) M Ratankumar were also present during the day’s press conference.
“So I assure that AIFF will put all the possible sports, science and technical coaches available here to find the maximum talent from Manipur soil to take them to the international level. That’s the reason we come here to announce this,” AIFF chief added.
The visiting AIFF president also informed that the Manipur government can open a football academy. “I can assure that AIFF will put its best foot forward so that every talent available in Manipur can be nurtured properly,” he added.
On losing charm of football championships in the country including Manipur’s popular CC Meet tourney, AIFF President Chaubey said that they’re trying their best to revive these tournaments including Bengaluru Stafford Challenge Cup, Bordoloi Trophy etc.
The finals of the Santosh trophy will be played overseas at Riyadh after its other matches in five different zones, he added.
AIFF General Secretary Shaji Prabhakaran and Director (Youth Affairs and Sports)T Phulen and President(AMFA) M Ratankumar were also present during the day’s press conference.
“So I assure that AIFF will put all the possible sports, science and technical coaches available here to find the maximum talent from Manipur soil to take them to the international level. That’s the reason we come here to announce this,” AIFF chief added.