2nd Division I-League: Minerva Academy to take on Lone Star

Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, November 28

The city will host the first home match of the ongoing 2nd Division I-League at Guru Nanak Stadium tomorrow. Minerva Academy Football Club, Chandigarh, will take onLone Star Football Club, Kashmir.

In the pre-match press conference, held at the venue, today, coaches of both the teams hinted that there would not be any change in their teams since there was no injury to any of their players.

Minerva Academy has three points in its kitty as they won their inaugural match 2-0 against Kenkre Football Club played at Mumbai. Meanwhile, Lone Star topped the points table with four points after two matches.

Hilal Rasoor Parray, Kashmir FC coach congratulated Minerva FC for coming up to this level and promoting the game of football in Punjab. “It’s great to see another team after JCT, Phagwara, from our region coming upand performing well. This will certainly help inthe growth of football in the region.”

Regarding tomorrow’s match, Rasool said it’s a game of football and anybody can win. But, we will play to win, he added.

Addressing the conference, Minerva Academy FC, director, Ranjit Bajaj explained the reason behind fielding the team in the 2nd Division and subsequently in the U-18 and U-15 I-League.

“We are left with no club in the top tier competition of the country from Punjab, and our boys have to venture out very far to places like Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune and Goa among others to seek for an opportunity in clubs. We have ample talent to nurture and that is the reason why Minerva Academy FC has taken the onus to revive the glorious history of Punjab’s football,” Bajaj said.

Meanwhile, players of both the teams had a strenuous workout this afternoon on the match venue. The match will start at 2.30pm tomorrow.