An avid football fan and former national player, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has ambitious plans to build stadiums in Manipur.
THOUGH HE WENT to bed well past midnight, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh looks far from blearyeyed. Like millions of football fans around the world, he has been glued to his TV, watching the FIFA World Cup in Russia. In spite of his busy schedule, involving meetings, travel and paperwork, he has not missed a single match.
Sitting in his wood-clad office, sipping a cup of coffee, he discusses the ongoing World Cup. Though Argentina are out, he remains a diehard fan. He expresses disappointment with their performance. “I expected them to do better,” says Singh. “Their classy attacking and dribbling style has many fans across the world. I was at a loss seeing how they played this time.”
Who is his favourite footballer? “Maradona was a gem and Messy is classy, but my favourite was Pele,” he says. “What an aggressive footballer he was! He would play for 90 minutes with the same vigour, speed and determination, which is rare in football.”
He has been impressed by the underdogs. “I am floored by the Japanese,” says Singh. “They have really become world-class. The match between Japan and Senegal was one of my favourites this World Cup.”
This story is from the July 15, 2018 edition of THE WEEK.
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This story is from the July 15, 2018 edition of THE WEEK.
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