Imphal, July 28: India's ace footballer Ngangom Bala Devi on Wednesday gifted a pair of running shoes to Manipur Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh,a former footballer turned politician at the latter's secretariat in Imphal.
Informing this in a Facebook post today, Chief Minister Biren Singh wrote, "India's ace footballer Bala Devi called on me at my office today. Bala, who currently plays for Rangers Women's FC in Scotland, was recently named as All India Football Federation (AIFF) Women's Footballer of the Year 2020-21."
"Encouraging me to keep myself fit during this challenging time, Bala also gifted me a pair of running shoes. Thank you for such a warm gesture," he added.
Bala, who currently plays for Rangers Women's FC in Scotland, was recently named as All India Football Federation (AIFF) Women's Footballer of the Year 2020-21. The All Manipur Football Association (AMFA) has also congratulated Bala Devi when she was named the AIFF Women's Footballer of the year 2020-21 of the year.
AMFA also congratulated the young and energetic midfield footballer Suresh Wangjam on being named as AIFF Men's Emerging Footballer of the year. Striker Bala Devi, a resident of Irengbam, a small village in Manipur's Bishnupur district had made history when become the first Indian woman to become a professional footballer and sign a contract with Scotland's Rangers football club in February last year.
On the other hand Suresh plays as a midfielder for Indian Super League club Bengaluru FC and India national football team. On winning the prestigious award of the AIFF, AMFA also wished the players bright careers ahead. Sharing a similar sentiment, the Manipur Police Sports Club (MPSC) also heartily congratulated Ngangom Bala on being named as the AIFF Women's Footballer of the year 2020-21.She played for MPSC and worked as a policewoman for the Manipur Police Department until her move to Rangers FC.
Ngangom Bala had also received the award two years in a row in 2014 and 2015.Bala is a member of MPSC and was with the MPSC team before she joined the Rangers FC last year, according to a press release issued by MPSC's secretary here. The club also wished success in all her endeavours and expressed hopes that she will continue to inspire, motivate and encourage young women footballers of the country and the State.Manipur has so far produced a number of top seeded male and female footballers for the national teams.
