Minerva Academy to feature in U-15,U-18 competitions

CHANDIGARH: The Minerva Academy Football Club which recently hogged the limelight after getting selected for Second Division ILeague of the AllIndia Football Federation AIFF from the region will also participate in the U15 and U18 competitions of the league

Updated At : 07:37 AM Sep 10, 2015 IST

Ranjeet Bajaj, director, Minerva Academy Football Club, addresses mediapersons in Chandigarh on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 9

The Minerva Academy Football Club, which recently hogged the limelight after getting selected for Second Division I-League of the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) from the region, will also participate in the U-15 and U-18 competitions of the league.

Ranjeet Bajaj, director of the the football club, said besides the academy would represent the city in the junior category as well. “This is a major boost for both amateur and professional footballers, who till did not have the platform to showcase their talent till now. Now, the club players will be able to showcase their talent at the higher level,” said Bajaj. The city lads will play against India’s top clubs such as Mohammaden Sporting Club, DSK Shivajians FC, PIFA Sports, Kenkre Sports, Dempo SC, NEROCA FC, Fateh Hyderabad FC, Gangtok Himalayan SC, LoneStar Kashmir FC and Guwahati FC.

“After we won the state championship, the Chandigarh Football Association recommended our name for the Second Division I-League. If the Minerva Academy secures one of the top two places during the league, we are likely to be promoted to the first division of the I-League and could find a place alongside the Indian Super League clubs. “This is a massive opportunity for Chandigarh,” said the director of the club.

In the absence of their own stadium, the club had also approached the Punjab Sports Department to provide them a stadium for their home games. The club will play their home games at the Guru Nanak Dev Stadium, Ludhiana. “Our home matches will be played at the Gunu Nanak Stadium as the grounds in Chandigarh are not AIFF approved. The Punjab Sports Department helped us by approving the ground,” said Bajaj.

Meanwhile, Surinder Singh, former player and the only coach having the ‘A’ certificate of the AFC, will head the first team of the club. Earlier, he had assisted Pilan Arrows (I-League) and remained the head coach of the Indian U-13 squad in 2011 and 2012.

The academy will also hold trials for the selection of U-18 and U-15 teams on September 10 (3pm) at the Minerva Academy grounds on the NH-21 and at Daon village in Mohali (opposite North Country Mall). The trials for the senior team will be held at the Minerva Academy grounds on September 12 (3 pm).