Shylo Malsawmatulanga, Pachau Lalawmpuia, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Laldrinka Ralte, Lalramluaha Hmar, Nguerneilal Hmar, Lalrempuia Fanai, Robert Lalthlamuana, Zico Zoremsanga, David Lalrinmuana, Ricky Lallawmawma. Well, tongue twisters they might be, but they could surely turn the football fortunes of the country and push it higher.
Way back in 1988, Nagaland came to the Santosh Trophy and produced some splendid displays despite bowing out in the league stage. Next year, it was Krishna Sethi and Jewel Bay’s Assam which dazzled at Guwahati. Manipur and Meghalaya and Mizoram could hardly be left behind.
The tiny Northeastern states were on the verge of something spectacular. The seven sisters, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura included, were on a mission or so it seemed. Not to forget Sikkim as well.
Slowly but surely, footballers of class, quality and dexterity trooped out of the scenic and hill states. “It’s a very significant victory. I am sure this will ensure that Mizoram will improve by leaps and bounds as a footballing state and send a lot of talented players to various parts,” said Chuni Goswami — the former India and Bengal captain who himself led the state to Santosh Trophy triumphs — of Mizoram’s recent victory in the Santosh Trophy.
“The importance of Santosh Trophy is there for all to see. There is a lot of talent in the country and it needs to be tapped. Only a tournament like Santosh Trophy can help in doing so. It was Manipur sometime back. It will be Mizoram now and perhaps some other Northeast state in future,” added Goswami, who led India to the 1962 Asian Games triumph.
In the early 90s, a certain Bhaichung Bhutia came and conquered all before him to become a legend in his lifetime. In 2002–03, tiny Manipur beat Kerala 2–1 via the golden goal to become the first Northeast state to win the Santosh Trophy. In 2011, they again made the final but lost 1-2 to Bengal.
In the bargain, Manipur contributed players like Renedy Singh, Malemngamba Meetei, Surkumar Singh, Chitrasen Chandam, Gouramangi Singh, Khelemba Singh, James Lukram Singh, Tomba Singh, Reisangmei Vashum to mention just a handful to the national mainstream. There was hardly any top club in the country without a Manipuri in its ranks.
Now, Mizoram is set to send a stream of explosive footballers with big clubs scurrying across to sign them on. This is not a new phenomenon. Football watchers will agree that Bengal’s dominance in the national championship saw them produce brilliant footballers. When Punjab did well, a long list of talents emerged. So too, the then Mysore or later Karnataka, Kerala and Goa. The Indian Railways and Services have also made substantial contributions.
All these teams and their achievements have a common factor — the Santosh Trophy, symbol of national football supremacy. The then Maharaja of Santosh (province in undivided Bengal but now in Bangladesh), Manmatha Nath Roy Choudhary donated this special piece of silverware for the benefit of Indian football.