The Santosh Trophy team before its departure from Imphal on Wednesday. Telegraph picture
Imphal, July 15 : Manipur is hoping for an exhilarating performance against Punjab to keep their hopes alive in the 64th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy 2010 to be played in Calcutta from tomorrow.
Manipur have been grouped along with Jammu & Kashmir and Rajasthan in cluster IV in the preliminary round and if they emerge triumphant, they are likely to face strong contenders Punjab from cluster III in the prequarter-final encounter.
The 20-member Santosh Trophy team left today on three different flights from Imphal.
The first batch left at 9am while the last group left this evening. All Manipur Football Association president A. Santoshkumar Sing flagged off the team.
Though many football lovers are keeping their fingers crossed for the success of the side, team coach L. Nandakumar Singh said he had firm belief in the capability of his young and energetic boys. The team, he added, was confident and eager to begin.
Fans here feel that Manipur stand a fair chance in the game especially as they are grouped against Jammu & Kashmir and Rajasthan in the preliminary round, which they should able to defeat.
Manipur will take on Rajasthan in their first match on Friday.
Football meet
The Imphal West District Football Association will hold the 11th S. Birendra Singh Super Division Football League and 16th L. Sangita Devi First Division Football League from the last week of July.
Players: The Imphal East District Football Association has asked all its affiliated grassroots school units to send five players for preparation for the 11th Junior Girls’ Inter-District Football Tournament to be played at DSA Kakching ground.