Padmashree Bembem Devi gave 21 years of her life to the Indian women’s football team and even after retirement she is working to develop the players as a coach. Bembem affectionately known as the ‘Durga of Indian football’ and for her immense contribution to women’s sports in general, she was awarded the Padma Shri by President Ram Nath Kovind on 8 November. Bembem expressed her happiness on receiving the award and said in a media interaction, “I have never felt so much love before in the state after Padma Shri.”
Bembem lauded the efforts made by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to improve the women’s game in the country and said, “In our times, we did not have branded kits like the present team, we could travel by bus or train. used to travel And not by air. We didn’t have too many exposure trips like now and we didn’t have as many friendly matches. AIFF’s efforts have brought about a lot of changes. IWL (Indian Women’s League) has also arrived.”
However, he called on various stakeholders, private companies, sponsors and big clubs in the system to start supporting and motivating women footballers more and getting paid for their efforts.
“IWL should be organized and stakeholders, private companies and big clubs should be paid well to play girls. Guys don’t want to pay girls and that’s not good. The rules and timing of the game are the same for both boys and girls, so girls should also get good pay.
“Players who play in IWL, clubs try to get salary up to Rs 20,000 and the normal salary of Rs 50,000-60,000 is nothing. Girls have to be inspired. More tournaments should also be sponsored in the states. Right now we have only IWL and Senior Nationals and we need more tournaments for the development of the players.”
Good good Wants more people to join the conversation around women’s football in the country and feels that the Asian Cup could be a step towards it.
“We didn’t qualify for the Asian Cup but now we are going straight to the final round as hosts so the players have to do well and they are working hard,” he said. Earlier people didn’t know women footballers but now they do. People in Manipur are talking a lot about women’s sport but what happens in other states will be good.”
Bembem hails from the northeastern state of Manipur, a part of the country known for its sportsmanship. When asked how so many athletes and especially female athletes are born in the Northeast, Bembem said it is all about passion.
“Northeast athletes focus on their sport. Like I dreamed of playing for 20 years and I had that passion. The women of the Northeast have that passion and fire to make their dreams come true.”
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