The Story of One of the Greatest Figures in the History of Indian Football, Bembem Devi

On February 15, 2016, Shillong’s JLN stadium was jam-packed with 22000 football fans who had come to watch India play Nepal in the final of the women’s football at the 12th South Asian Games. Before the whistle commenced the match, a legendary player, captaining India for the last time, was felicitated in front of an appreciative crowd. The Indian women’s national team went on to defeat Nepal 4-0 to clinch the gold medal at the 12th South Asian Games.

For Oinam Bembem Devi, it was a perfect end to her illustrious career on the football field. The veteran heroine of India’s national women’s football, had been playing the sport for well over two decades, and had won every domestic trophy there was to win. As the captain of the Indian women’s national team, she had also led the country to a number of international titles.

Similar Story

'I'm Gay & I Don't Want a Fake Life': The Man Making Manipur Safer for LGBTQ Community

Surviving a series of tragedies, Sadam Hanjabam created a safe haven for Manipur’s LGBTQ+ community through his organisation ‘Ya_All’.

Read more >

However, despite captaining India to a higher ranking than the men’s team, few Indians know about this unsung legend. This is the story of Oinam Bembem Devi, one of the greatest figures in the history of Indian football.

Photo Source

Photo Source

Photo Source

By 2001, Bembem was the most experienced player on the national side and was adjudged the Woman Footballer of the Year by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). In 2003, she was handed the captain’s armband of the women’s national team at the AFC championship qualifiers in Thailand. Over the next 13 years, she captained the team in five title-winning campaigns in international tournaments. In addition, Bembem became a regular feature at qualifying tournaments for the World Cup and Olympics, in addition to AFC tournaments and the Asian Games.

Photo Source

At the age of 35, after more than two decades of playing for the country, Bembem Devi decided to hang up her boots on 31 December 2015. But the 2016 edition of the South Asian Games was being hosted by India and her teammates were insistent that she play with them. With the aim of winning one final gold for her country, the legendary footballer decided to have one final go and postponed her retirement for a few months.

Bembem Devi kept her parting promise. In the final, led by their veteran captain, the team rose to the occasion to convincingly defeat Nepal 4-0. For Bembem, it was a fitting farewell. And with it, one of the greatest figures in the history of Indian football, across both genders, finally bid adieu to the sport.

Since her retirement, Bembem Devi has taken up the role of a coach – she spends much of her time training kids back in Manipur as a part of the IFF-FIFA grassroots programme. She wants to start a football school for talented youngsters and she is determined to do it, with or without help from the Government. In an interview to the Times of India, the midfield magician said,

“I have decided not to get married. Instead I have decided to sacrifice my life for football. I eat, sleep and drink football, and my goal now is to train youngsters and promote football.”

Oinam Bembem Devi excelled in an era when women’s football in India was still in its infancy. There was no professional structure or consistent income stream for women’s football in India, but she decided to take the plunge into professional football, despite coming from a modest financial background. In spite of these hurdles, it is a testimony to Bembem’s passion for football that she has managed to carve a unique space for herself in Indian football.

Yet, despite her immense contribution to Indian football, Bembem Devi has hardly received any recognition in India. Even after a long, illustrious career, she has not been awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award. An unsung legend who has managed to change the narrative around women’s football in India, Manipur’s midfield dynamo deserves to be recognised and respected by her fellow countrymen.