Our Correspondent
Imphal, July 4 (EMN): Manipur footballer Dangmei Grace signed a professional contract with Nasaf PFC (Professional Football Club) of the Uzbekistan Women’s Super League.
She is the third Indian woman to sign a foreign club contract after Manipur’s footballer Ngangom Bala Devi signed up for Rangers FC (Scotland) in 2020 and Tamil Nadu’s goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan signed with Icelandic club Hamar Hveragerdi in 2021.
The 26-year-old Indian women’s national team star left Manipur on July 3 for Delhi before she caught her flight to Uzbekistan on July 4.
Speaking to this reporter prior to her departure, Grace who is the fifth child of Dangmei Simon and Rita Simon of Dimdailong village, Bishnupur, said, “I would say I am very happy but this is just the starting. I need to work more to achieve more in the future and bring fame for India and our state Manipur”.
During her stay in Uzbekistan, Grace, a striker for Gokulam Kerala FC, would be playing in three tournaments - the Women’s League, Uzbekistan Cup (knock-out tournament) and Uzbekistan Super Cup. The league will be held from June 15 to December 15 this year.
On her expectation during the stay, the nimble-footed winger, who started her football career in 2010 while playing for KRYPHSA Football Club in Imphal said, “I will share my experience of playing for almost 10 years”.
Grace, who was adjudged the 'AIFF Emerging Player of the Year' in 2019, has also helped Manipur finish runner-up in the 21st Senior National Women's Championship 2016 in Madhya Pradesh, 23rd Senior National Women's Championship 2017 held in Orissa and under-14 National Women's Festival 2010 at Chennai.
Seeing the performance of senior players like Bala Devi, Bembem and others inspired me to know more about football and to play like them for our country one day, she stated.
Speaking about young women footballers, Grace, who has appeared for India 45 times and scored 12 goals so far, felt that there will be lots of ups and downs in life.
‘But do not give up until you achieve your goal. Hard work and dedication always goes together’, she added.