Footballer Renedy Singh Helps Raise Money for Teammate With Cancer

Rohit, an aspiring footballer, just had his first round of chemo in Imphal.

For 22-year-old Rohit Maibam, former India footballer Renedy Singh is not just someone who inspired him to become a professional footballer. Renedy, to him, is the man who gave him the confidence to overcome cancer and survive.

The star footballer raised Rs 2.5 lakh for Rohit’s treatment by organising an exhibition football match in Manipur – Renedy XI versus Neroca – the only Indian Premier League team from the state.

The moment I was told Rohit was diagnosed with cancer, I was terribly shocked. Rohit is a promising footballer; young and brimming with talent. I realised this can happen to anyone. Then, I thought of the financial implications on his family and decided on a fundraising match for his treatment.

Renedy Singh

Renedy came in contact with Rohit when he was conducting a charitable football clinic at Tentha, a village in Thoubal district. He needed an assistant to help handle 25 kids in the camp and Rohit, a footballer playing at the local club, was the obvious choice.

“Names like Renedy, Gourmangi, Somata Saiza, Surkumar, Bidyananda, Jackichand are our inspiration. Their story of success in the Indian football scene is why I want to become a successful professional footballer like them. So when I was approached by our local club to assist Renedy for the clinic, I jumped,” recalled a visibly weak Rohit, who had just been through his first chemo session at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal.

The three-day camp went off well. Each morning for 2 hours, Renedy and Rohit got together to teach the 25 kids the ropes. But even after the short assignment ended, the two stayed in touch.

His knowledge and skill of the game made our connection strong. Roughly a month after the Tentha camp, I was informed that Rohit was diagnosed with colon cancer.

Renedy Singh

Once the idea had taken seed in Renedy, it didn’t take much convincing for his Manipuri professional footballer colleagues, playing outside the state, to agree to be part of the fundraising match. And even though getting the logistics right was a challenge, somehow everything came together.

Assisted by the local film fraternity, the match took place on 4 June with over 12,000 avid football fans turning up as spectators.

I’m so thankful to the fans who came to see the match. Football is such a magic in Manipur that this can only explain how we were able to raise Rs 2.5 lakh in a single match.

Renedy Singh

On Monday, the Rs 2.5 lakh was handed over to Rohit Maibam in front of his family. Rohit is the only male child with nine sisters of a farming family, living hand to mouth.

Da Renedy has given me the strength to fight back. What he has done for me is beyond my imagination. All of the Manipuri players, who I idolised, playing for me. It was a very emotional thing for me. Prior to the match, I used to have metal agony and depression. Now, all those have disappeared.  If I recover, I shall train hard to become a successful footballer.

Rohit Maibam

Football is a craze in Manipur. The state has produced many professional footballers. One would find a couple Manipuri players playing in key positions in almost all Indian football clubs or teams playing in the India league.

For many, football is their ‘rag-to-riches’ dream, with professional football starting in a big way. For Rohit, football may give a fighting chance to overcome cancer and become a winner.