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Digital Desk: According
India's triumph may be traced to the strife-torn Manipur, where 16 of the 23 players are from the NE region...
Digital Desk: Amid violence in Manipur, boys from the Kuki and Meitei communities shine in SAFF U-16 Championship. Here's Bharat Lairenjam, a Meitei, and Levis Zangminlun, a Kuki boy, keeping aside the domestic strife, led a good example by uniting and leading India to a historic victory at the SAFF (South Asian Football Federation) Championship.
Bharat and Levis scored the winning goals as India defeated Bangladesh 2-0 in Thimphu, Bhutan, to win the SAFF U-16 title for the fifth time in a row.
In the ethnic violence that has raged in Manipur since early May, about 200 people have been killed, hundreds have been injured or maimed, and tens of thousands have been displaced.
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Since 16 of the 23 boys that played are from the northeastern state of Manipur, which is riven by conflict, India owes Manipur a large part of its success. A total of sixteen individuals are involved, of which 11 are Meitei and 4 are Kuki.
They have prayed for peace to return to their state as a sobering message to the adults.
Bharat, who scored the game's first goal after just nine minutes, said with joy that he was happy to have scored and referred to it as his "goal of the championship." Although the team's players come from various communities, he told reporters that they get along well and have a strong sense of teamwork.
"My teammate, midfielder Levis, told me before the game that I needed to score to win... and his goal was crucial for India to win the title." I dashed over to him and hugged him tightly!" Bharat expressed his desire for normalcy... for the "good old days" in response to the turmoil in Manipur.
Levis informed reporters that he was worried before the final.
"However, I gained confidence after scoring the second goal." Football is our love... it brings us together and allows us to put aside our differences," said the young lad, who also plays for a Hyderabad team.
Notably, for months, the state has been bleeding as the warring Meitei and Kuki tribes exact a horrible toll on each other. Neither the state nor the federal government have been able to bring peace to the turbulent northeastern state. However, where they failed, two adolescent boys may succeed in reconciling Manipur and India.
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