Manipur footballer’s picked for India but passport Offc hang his fate

GUWAHATI: Talented Manipur footballer Lemmet Tangvah, who has been selected in the Indian U-17 team for the upcoming exhibition tour of Spain as part of preparations for the AFC Qualifiers, has lost his passport in a bureaucratic tangle awaiting for the arrival.

A product of the famous Chandigarh Football Academy, led by veteran coach Ankur Khanna, the young forward from Nungbi Khullen village in Manipur’s Ukhrul district applied for his passport on February 7 but is yet to receive it. The important document was not found, thus killing his chances. Representing the national side by a single thread.

“He applied for a passport on February 7 under the general category, but has not received it yet. We, on behalf of the AIFF, have also written to the passport offices to expedite his case and , as he is going to represent the country, though we think he should have applied for a Tatkal passport first. Place,” an AIFF insider told from the ongoing national camp in Goa.
The 16-year-old Lemmet is currently participating in the U-17 national camp at the AIFF training center in Fatorda, Goa.
Lemmet, an attacking forward, was adjudged the ‘Best Player’ in the 61st Subroto Cup U-17 Boys Football Tournament recently as his team – Government Model Higher Secondary School, Chandigarh – beat Pilgrim Higher Secondary 0-1. Finished runner-up by defeating School, in a summit clash held at Ambedkar Stadium, Dimapur, New Delhi. Their coach Ankur Khanna was adjudged the ‘Best Coach’ of the tournament.
Accordingly, Lemmet was invited for the U-17 national team selection trials in Goa and was asked to get his passport ready before the exposure trip to Spain.

Coach Khanna is hopeful that his ward will get the required document in time before the team departs on March 31. Lemmet’s elder brother Worchi regularly visits the passport office in Imphal for updates.
“I visited the passport office here yesterday, and they are saying that the police verification process and other formalities in Manipur have been done away with, and the ball is now in the regional head office in Guwahati,” Worchi said. ”

“As far as the Guwahati office is concerned, they are saying that the process has been expedited and the applicant can expect a physical copy of the passport in a couple of days,” he added.