NEROCA FC, the forerunner of Manipur’s football dream

“We play not just to win, but to rekindle the love for football in our beautiful state of Manipur,” declares a NEROCA FC official, Nixon Rajkumar voice trembling with emotion as the team prepared to face challenges with unyielding spirit. As orange-clad fans stream into Khuman Lampak Stadium, it’s a moment that captures the soul of a club that has refused to surrender.

The 134th edition of the IndianOil Durand Cup, Asia’s oldest football tournament, has become a beacon of hope and revival for NEROCA FC,  the forerunner of Manipur’s football dreams and celebrating 60 years of existence, amid financial challenges and past hardships.

In the heat of an Imphal afternoon, as the iconic Orange Brigade prepares for another Durand Cup match, the weight of their struggle is evident in every player’s eyes. These are footballers who are not playing for much financial rewards, but yet continue to chase leather, for the passion they have for the game.

“With a lot of hardship and financial struggles, we had to remove our transfer ban and solve other pressing issues before the Durand cup; one problem after another,” explains Nixon, painting a picture of an organization operating on prayers and passion rather than paychecks.

What makes their story extraordinary isn’t just survival, it’s the lengths they’ve gone to keep playing. “The team organizes charities and calls for crowd funding, as there is no proper sponsorship from big companies forthcoming,” reveals another official, his words heavy with the reality of modern-day football.

Amid financial constraints and delayed wages, they find strength not in resources alone, but in the unifying power of football, facilitated by the timeless legacy of the Durand Cup and the steadfast role of the Indian Army.

In the heart of Imphal, as the Orange Brigade takes to the ground, they carry the collective dream of Manipur through the beautiful game. This season, thanks to the IndianOil Durand Cup and the Indian Army, that dream is alive again.

Born in 1965 as the North Eastern Re-Organising Cultural Association, NEROCA FC has always been more than a football club. They are Manipur’s first representatives in the I-League, the first Northeast club to reach a Durand Cup final, and producers of countless national team players.

But today, they fight a different battle—one of survival, and hope. The sacrifice runs deeper. Yet when 35,000 fans packed Khuman Lampak for the Imphal Derby against TRAU FC, something magical happened. For 90 minutes, Manipur remembered why it’s called India’s football factory.