Kangpokpi: When Ngamgouhou Mate — the 14-year-old captain of India’s Under-16 (U-16) football team — lifted the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) U-16 Championship trophy in Thimphu this month, he was elated. He had done his country proud, and was eager to return home to Manipur, envisioning a hero’s welcome at the Imphal airport, a heartfelt felicitation from his coach, and a joyous family celebration.
But fate had different plans.
With the conflict between the Kuki and Meitei communities in Manipur, which has killed 200 people since it erupted in May, still raging, Mate’s family was forced to flee their home earlier this month, after their village in Pallel came under attack.
Adding to his ordeal, Mate and two of his other teammates found themselves separated from the rest of the team upon arriving at the Delhi airport on 11 September. Being a Kuki, Mate could not proceed to Imphal directly and had to first travel to Guwahati instead, where his arrival went unnoticed.
From Guwahati, he went to Dimapur in Nagaland, before enduring another 438-km journey to finally reach a relief camp in Kangpokpi, Manipur, where his uncle — displaced from Imphal — was staying.
However, Mate has yet to meet his family, who are at a relief camp in Tengnoupal. The route to that location passes through Imphal, an area inaccessible to Kukis due to the ongoing conflict.
Shaped like a bowl, Manipur is surrounded by nine hills. While the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley occupies the central region, the southern hills are primarily inhabited by the Kukis, and the northern hills by the Nagas.
The Kuki-Meitei violence has displaced over 50,000 people so far, according to police data.
As homes were burnt, and villages razed to the ground, the Kukis living in the valley were forced to leave for the hills, and the Meiteis residing in the hills — relatively fewer — came to the valley.
Sitting inside the relief camp, Mate says he was aware of the situation in Manipur but never expected things to escalate to a point where he would lose his home.
“I feel sad about missing out on the grand welcome I dreamed of and, even more so, that I could not return home after our victory,” he said. “The [other] team members were greeted by football fans, the local media and club members, and I really missed being a part of that moment.”
In the Indian team that won the SAFF U-16 championship — they defeated Bangladesh 2-0 in a high-octane final — 16 of the 23 members are Manipuris. Thirteen of these 16 are Meiteis, but Mate says ethnic strife has not strained his bond with his team members.
They, too, felt disheartened about the team not being able to return home together, he adds.
“We all hugged before parting at the Delhi airport and my team asked me to stay safe till we meet again,” he said. “They told me that they would miss me and also promised a celebration when we all meet again outside Manipur.”
‘I froze when I heard about the attack on our village’
On the morning of 8 September, when Mate was gearing up for the team’s semi-final match against the Maldives, he received a call from his sister. She told them that their village, Zion — located in Pallel, in the foothills — was under attack.
Houses were being burnt and people killed, she said, adding that they were being forced to evacuate. The news made Mate freeze, he tells ThePrint.
“I did not know how to react. I just told her to keep calm and make sure that our parents are safe,” he said. “I was extremely disturbed.”
As the U-16 football team navigates through these challenging times, the focus on upcoming matches and tournaments remains crucial. The Indian senior men’s team is also preparing for significant qualifiers, including their match against Afghanistan, which is vital for their aspirations in the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027.
Being the captain of the team, however, Mate had to quickly pull himself together for the match, and so he did.
“Once I picked up the ball, I told myself that I have to concentrate on what I am here for today — to make my team win this game and make the country proud,” said Mate, a midfielder.
The teen said his Meitei teammates were very supportive as the situation back home weighed him down.
“Some even came and said sorry and hugged me for the trouble I was going through,” he said, adding that his coach, former Indian midfielder Renedy Singh, also a Meitei, was there for him as well.
“He told me not to worry. He was a great support,” he said. “But I felt relieved only after I received a call from my sister informing me that they had relocated and were safe.”
‘Wish to show the medal to my parents’
When Mate left for the championship on 29 August, he made a promise to his mother, that he would return with a gold medal. Now, he longs to be reunited with his parents.
“This achievement is incomplete until I share it with my parents and sister. I am displaced and I feel disillusioned now,” he said.
“I have spoken to them over the phone, but I have not yet been able to show them this medal. I can only imagine the joy on my mother’s face when she sees the medal. I am so eager to witness that moment,” he added, holding on to his medal. “I wish we had internet at least, so I could make a video call.”.
Internet in Manipur has been suspended since the violence erupted on 3 May.
Mate’s uncle Ch. Lhunkhosei Mate says he made several efforts to take the teen to his family.
“At first I thought of exploring an alternative route to Tengnoupal, but we were advised against it due to security reasons. Then I contemplated taking him through Imphal, but my friends told me that we would get killed the moment we entered the valley territory, so I abandoned the idea,” he added. “Finally, I considered appealing to senior officers, but do not know who to approach. I really want him to meet his family.”
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An appeal for peace
Mate, who says he harbours no resentment towards any community, believes the violence is “not worth it”.
“Who is it helping?” he asked. “Peace is the way forward.”
Mate says the inclusive spirit of sports — “it is the spirit of the game that matters, not where you come from, or which community you belong to or your religion” — should prevail everywhere.
“We all are residents of one country and that is what matters,” he said.
The road ahead seems long for Mate. To prepare for the next championship, he needs to start practice again. With Imphal out of bounds, he is not certain when that will begin.
“The future is uncertain. Here in Kangpokpi, a good samaritan who runs a gym has offered me a free membership where I can exercise and start some practice,” he said. “I am now waiting for what will happen next. Just hope peace returns to my state soon.”
(Edited by Sunanda Ranjan)
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