NEW DELHI: Former India team-mates mourned the demise of Laishram Manitombi Singh, who passed away in Imphal on Sunday. He was 39.
Manitombi was a part of the team that won the LG Cup in Vietnam in 2002, which was India’s biggest win at the continental stage since 1971.
The former full-back had also represented India in the 2002 Asian Games in Busan.
“I was really shocked to hear of his death. He was such an asset to Indian football,” former team-mate and current national team assistant coach Venkatesh Shanmugam told AIFF website.
Defender Debjit Ghosh is someone who not only had the pleasure of playing alongside Manitombi for the national team, but had also captained the full-back during their days at Mohun Bagan.
Expressing his surprise at the latter’s untimely demise, Ghosh gave some insight as to the kind of a raw talent the Manipuri had.
“I was very surprised to hear that he had passed away. We could all do with some good news this year, and this was certainly not one of them. He was a dear friend off the pitch,” said Ghosh.
“I had seen him put in some really good performances on the pitch. He was an absolute fighter, but more important was the consistency that he brought in. You know that if he’s there on the pitch, he will give you eight out of 10 every time. An absolute commitment player,” continued Venkatesh.
“As a defender, he was right up there with Mahesh (Gawli), Deepak (Mondal) or Surkumar (Singh) as some of the best defenders of that time.”
Renedy Singh, who played alongside Manitombi for both country and Mohun Bagan, said, “Manitombi was that kind of a captain. He worked hard on the pitch, and that’s how he inspired the rest of us. When you think of a tough tackler like him, you’d rather have him on your side fighting for every ball, than in the opposition ranks.”
