At 5 feet 6 inches, footballer Khangembam Thoi Singh may lack a strong physical built but his tenacious ball winning qualities make him one of the key figures in the midfield. The 24-year-old from the Thoubal district in Manipur was one of the many to steal the limelight at the first-ever auction for the Indian Super League Season 2 earlier this month.
Buoyed by an impressive season with the 2014 I-League champions Bengaluru FC, Thoi was the third best pick at the auction after Sunil Chhetri (Rs 1.2 crore) and Lyngdoh Eugeneson (Rs 1.05 cr). Chennaiyin FC bought Thoi for Rs 86 lakh, more than double his base price of Rs 39 lakh. The diminutive medio, who missed out the inaugural season of the ISL, keenly awaits the cash-rich event that kicks off this October.
Having represented India at the Under-20 level, Thoi wants to make the big jump — don the national colours for the senior team — through a good season with Chennaiyin FC. “The ISL auction has surprised me. I never thought I would be picked up for such a big amount. I believe it is a reward for my hard work,” an elated Thoi says. “My aim, as of now, is to become a better player and I hope to cement my place in the national team.” Belonging to a state where football is a way of living for many, Thoi took up the sport at a tender age of six. “Manipur has a strong football connection. It is one sport that everyone there has played at least once. So, I was no different. I began playing it with my neighbourhood boys and started developing my skills. “But I also loved athletics and volleyball. I could run very fast and thus, I used to win a lot of medals in sprints during my school days,” said Thoi, whose elder brother Dhiren is a national level boxer.
It was in 2005, when Thoi represented Manipur in the Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy — a Under-16 national sub-junior tournament — that he thought of taking up football as a career. Thereafter, it was no looking back as the diminutive player — who played as a striker then -- went on to represent India in the AFC Youth Championship in Kolkata. An year later, he got the taste of club football when he was roped in by the Chennai-based Indian Bank team. “It’s been a long and difficult journey starting with the Indian Bank to my current team Bengaluru FC. I have learnt many things from many people during my stints with these clubs.
“But as a player, I have grown with Bengaluru FC. I would like to acknowledge coach Ashley Westwood’s contribution in my success. He is the one who saw my strength in the midfield.”
Other clubs that he had represented are Mahindra United (2007), Salgaocar (2010), United Sikkim (2011), Mumbai Tigers (2012). “I am lucky to be part of a team who won the I-League and then the Federation Cup title,” says the Bengaluru FC player. In the past two years, Thoi has become a household name in his village Chintan in Khongjom and the ISL auction has added to the list of his followers. “The villagers tell me ‘we are very proud of you. You should continue to bring more glory to the state and the country’. “Sometimes, kids come up to me seeking help in football training. I try to teach them whenever I am not training. I know it is just a step towards my dream. I have to work really hard now,” he says.
Thoi is often praised for his exceptional work rate and the youngster said “hard work” and “fighting spirit” are his mantras for success. “I always give my 100 per cent. I believe if you want something, you can achieve it with hard work and determination.” With big dreams in his eyes, Thoi is ready to embark on a new journey.
