Raengdai FC: A football fairytale from conflict-hit Manipur | Football News
Eduardo Galeano, in his sports writing masterpiece, “Football in Sun and Shadow”, writes that “a reporter once asked German theologian Dorothee Sölle, ‘How would you explain happiness to a child?’ ‘I wouldn’t explain it,’ she answered. ‘I’d toss him a ball and let him play.”The game of football holds the power to elicit joy not just in the one with the ball at his feet but also in the others cherishing its magic from off the field, sometimes even when the lives on both ends of the field are caught in an unfortunate strife. That’s the reality of the people of Noney in Manipur — around 63 km west of capital Imphal — and home to Zeliangrong community, comprising Zeme, Liangmai, Rongmei, and Inpui tribes.After “insurgency”, “militant attacks”, “killings” and “curfews” dominated most headlines from the region in the last couple of years, football has brought them in the limelight in the form of Raengdai FC – the club from the region that has been ascending the Indian football ladder with consistency and swiftness.The latest achievement for the four-year-old club was their historic debut in Durand Cup with a 1-0 victory over last season’s quarterfinalists, Indian Navy.“There was naturally a bit of nervousness because of their quality and experience, but that never stopped us from believing in ourselves,” said Raengdai head coach Birbal Singh Kshetrimayum.
Raengdai won the Manipur Premier League in 2024 and got the chance to play in I-League 3 during 2024-25 — a chance that they grabbed with both hands. They then won the AIFF competition upon debut to earn promotion into I-League 2 for the upcoming season.It’s the story of a journey that began on Nov 6, 2022, at Centre Point Food Plaza in Imphal when football enthusiasts in the community got together to find a pathway for the youngsters, who they believed had talent aplenty, to make a career in football.“When we founded FC Raengdai, our vision was simple — to create a proper grassroots football pathway for Zeliangrong community. We knew there was plenty of talent in our villages and towns, but many young players lacked the opportunity and platform to showcase their abilities,” says club general secretary Napoleon Rongmei. “FC Raengdai was created to change that.”And it did change the football landscape in the area. It showed the footballing talents the path towards “building a brighter future for the next generation of footballers”.It was at this juncture, on May 3, 2023, that the conflict began in Manipur. With sports across the region coming to a halt, it had its impact even on the newly formed club, too. There was no football activity for two years and it eventually resumed in 2024.But having their training facilities in Imphal helped, as the players could be away from the friction of the conflict and focus on their game.With players not just from Zeliangrong community but from all over the state, Raengdai built a squad, competed and won the 33rd NM Gupta Football Tournament 2024 in Silchar.And when the call came from MPL — the premier club competition in the state — to participate, Raengdai etched their name in Manipur football by emerging champions of the 2nd edition in 2025.Striker Tingkaochun Gangmei, who began playing football in the local grounds, asserts: “Joining FC Raengdai in 2023 was a turning point in my career. It is my first senior club, and together we competed in the Manipur Premier League before earning promotion through I-League 3. Now, to represent FC Raengdai in our first-ever Durand Cup is something I never imagined as a child playing in Khoupum Valley. It makes me proud not only for myself but also for my family and everyone back home.”Noney also shares Manipur’s higher literacy rate, ranking 10th nationally, and parents in the area didn’t think of football as a better option compared to studies, for their children.“In a typical Rongmei Naga family, football is rarely considered a viable career option. Thinking outside the box and letting my son become a footballer was one of the hardest decisions my family ever made,” said midfielder Gaisuangmei Kamei’s father. “Initially, as parents, we wanted him to pursue formal education at school. However, we ultimately chose to respect his choice. Looking back now, I realize that it was not a bad decision at all.”
It was those collective decisions that aided the rise of the community-funded club that, despite financial struggles, is becoming a growing name in Indian football scene.On Monday, they will be at Khuman Lampak Stadium — expected to be packed with fans — for their second match of Durand Cup, incidentally a Manipur derby against TRAU FC.“In a match like this, the crowd can create extra pressure, but that’s part of football. I have told the players that they must be mentally strong, physically ready and enjoy the occasion rather than be overwhelmed by it,” said Kshetrimayum.As for the community back home and in the stands, they will look to Raengdai to once again make the headlines for its footballing merit.
