Thursday , March 28 2024

U-16 Youth League champs Minerva Punjab FC invited to play friendlies against India U-17 & U-15 teams!

The Minerva Punjab FC colts, the 2016 & 2017 champions of AIFF U-16 Youth League – Nike Premier Cup, have been invited to play two friendly matches against the India U-17 World Cup team and the India U-15 team on March 22 and March 24 respectively at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa.

Minerva Punjab FC colts had clinched a comfortable 3-0 victory over Ozone FC Bengaluru in the final of the Nike Premier Cup 2017 in Mumbai to successfully defended their title. Interestingly four players from Minerva Punjab FC colts who won the 2016 Nike Premier Cup were called up for the FIFA U-17 World Cup preperatory camp held in Goa after the tournament was concluded last year in Givson Singh, Narendra, Subham Sarangi and Manvir Singh, who made the cut last year. Goalscoring machine Subham Sarangi and rock solid Punjabi defender Narender made the final U-17 World Cup squad after a gruelling training period. Shubham Sarangi has infact scored some crucial goals for the India U-17s on their exposure trips to Brazil and Russia over the last few months.

The Warriors have departed from Chandigarh with the squad that won the 2017 Nike Premier Cup few weeks ago in Mumbai. Star striker Mohammed Sahajahan, who previously featured and captained the India U-13 & U-15 National team will look to impress the newly appointed India U-17 coach Luis Norton De Matos from Portugal, while players like Jackson Singh, Anwar Ali, Thoiba Singh and Sailo who have been regulars on the scoresheet will look to catch the eye of the new man incharge who has admitted that he is keen on finding some good new additions for India U-17 World Cup squad.

About Arunava Chaudhuri

Check Also

AIFF TV: India press conference after Afghanistan loss!

Watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier post-match press conference featuring India head coach Igor …