Punjab: Minerva Academy FC Owner Ranjit Bajaj has been awarded the “Pride of Football” by Sudeva Football Club on August 15,2020. Bajaj was apprehended for his outstanding contribution and excellent service to the beautiful game and Indian Football.
Conveying his joy over the achievement, Bajaj said, “At Minerva, we have always put our best efforts to play a role in the development and promotion of football. Being awarded this recognition by Sudeva FC is a testament to the efforts the team has made throughout our journey.”
In less than five years, Bajaj has managed to establish Minerva as the leading club in India to focus on youth development, training, and producing over 75 players for various age grouped national teams in record time.
Minerva is the only Indian football club to win every age group National level tournaments in the country. Minerva has won 7 National titles (Hero I-League in 2017-18, U13 Sub Junior league in 2017, U15 Junior League 4 times in a row from 2015 to 2019 and U18 Elite League in 2019) in the last 5 years and produced over 75 players for different age grouped National Teams. The searching of the youth players from all over the country to their training in the academy all have come up with this success.
Six youth National league titles in four years reflects the success level of youth development Minerva had. Since its inception, Bajaj and Minerva have also won numerous and prestigious awards such as the FICCI award for exceptional contribution towards developing football at the grassroots level, the PEFI award for best academy promoting sports, and the FFCI award for the best center of youth football excellence.
Sudeva FC was founded in 2014 by two young entrepreneurs, Anuj Gupta and Vijay Hakari, both had a common vision for raising the standards of football training in the country. The club runs various grassroots programs and works towards the development of football.
Sudeva FC granted playing rights in the Hero I-League for 2020-21 season by the All India Football Federation earlier this month and this award ceremony was hosted by Sudeva at Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi, celebrating their official entry to the next season’s Hero I-League.
