Arenjungla Kichu | Mokokchung | June 25
Salulamang football ground is located in the heart of the community but is nothing resembling a football stadium. It featured lovely green lawns with mature bushes dotted throughout, just like most other village playgrounds in the state. It is so small that three to four of its sized grounds will fit into one conventional football ground.
Despite the fact that the pitch did not fulfill any specifications, Salulamang became a household name in the local football circuits which was dominated by their skilled players in the 1990s and the first decade of the 2000s.
Their supremacy in district football became clear as they won important championships and trophies such as the Langpangkong Football Trophy and their players performed well in competitions organized by the Mokokchung District Football Association.
Furthermore, the village’s players proceeded to represent Nagaland state in major tournaments like the Dr. T. Ao Trophy, the Santosh Trophy, the Subroto Cup Football Tournament, and many others, finally establishing Salulamang as a wellspring of football talent in the area.
However, the growing football momentum came to a steady halt, making it difficult to imagine that the once ‘football hub’ is now all hushed and quiet.
Mokokchung Times set out on a trip to find answers to the issues via the wisdom and knowledge of the villagers themselves.
According to Senti Jamir, a retired DySP and a member of the Nagaland IGP Team from 1986 to 2003, roughly 30-40 football players from the village were handed government employment only because of their talent.
Three of those players, including Senti, were elevated to the level of DSP, while many others became assistant sub-inspectors or sub-inspectors of police.
He went on to remark that the community experienced its halcyon days those days.
“In fact, we had seven players from our village representing Nagaland in the Santosh Trophy between 1999 and 2004,” he said.
“Another player from our village, Saku, was also named Man of the Tournament and Man of the Match in one of the Santosh Trophy matches.”
“Imyapang was another one who played for the Junior Indian squad at an event held in Israel,” he continued, reminiscing about the golden days.
How football was brought to the village
And underlying all of these accomplishments is one of the most fascinating stories of how football was introduced in the village in 1940 by a preacher named Tzünlepdang of Changki village.
According to Akanglemba Jamir, an 87-year-old man from Salulamang village, Lepdang came to the area to serve as a pastor, but he was also schooled in physical education in Jorhat. Thus, it was he who brought the beautiful game to the village. The preacher would use oranges or wrap cloth into a ball to play football with the villagers.
“He was someone who would ask everyone in the village to kick the ball back to him, and that’s how the locals learned how to kick and play football,” Akang explained.
“The Langpangkong Football Tournament was established in 1941, but we lost the first year. However, we won back-to-back championships in 1942 and 1943,” he said, recalling how football has remained important in the scene ever since.
Why did football flourish?
Although every community had a field, none was as successful as Salulamang.
“When we were younger, all we had was that tiny field, so all the villagers—young and old—would gather there every afternoon and play merciless matches. It made no difference whatever side you were on or how many guys you had on your squad. We selected our teams and entered the game without even thinking about the time,” Senti explained.
Senti determined that the main contributing variables to their playing ability were the tiny size of the playground and its strategic location in the middle of the village.
“Because the ground was so small, the players would crowd it. But, as a player, you must also pass the ball to your teammates. As a result, every step you take will be met with an opponent, and you must learn to tackle and dribble away from all of them. I feel it helped us improve our skills,” he remarked.
“In addition, the fact that the ground was too tiny helped us develop our passing abilities and execute with more accuracy and precision,” he continued.
Why is football on the decline?
The little field that equipped them with discipline and skills failed to instruct them in stamina building.
“You need a lot of stamina to cover a vast field, something you can’t do if you don’t have any experience. I believe the reduction is due to a variety of factors, but the lack of a playground and proper coaching are two major aspects,” he stated.
“Our guys have never been trained to keep position because they have never been taught to play in that manner. Furthermore, because everyone is solely concerned with academics, no one wants to invest money on football coaching. At the end of the day, it all boils down to money,” he added.
According to him, the current way of life, technologies and gadgets are keeping the youngsters engaged more than football.
“These days, people don’t walk or run much. They don’t appear to be motivated to succeed in sports, nor do they have a sportsmanlike attitude. You seldom see anyone practicing these days,” he observed.
The way forward
According to Senti, football may be restored in Salulamang if the community join together and recognize their achievements in the sport, but first a proper pitch must be given.
“I feel that young people constantly need heroes to look up to. Back then, there were many of us who were state players, so kids looked up to us and played with us, but they no longer have that in the village,” he said, confiding that an effort to resuscitate the game is being made.
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