Northern powerhouse Minerva Punjab FC are travelling the 270km long journey from Chandigarh to Delhi which would be approx 4 hrs 30 min travel with over 150 of their Academy cadets and staff to cheer for the India’s U-17 World Cup team who play USA tonight at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi at 8pm IST.

Interestingly one in three footballer in India’s 21-member squad for the FIFA U-17 World Cup have links to Chandigarh. Four players in Amarjit Singh, Sanjeev Stalin, Prabhsukhan Gill and Jeakson Singh are products of the Chandigarh Football Academy while Anwar Ali, Nongdamba Naorem and Mohammad Shahjahan are associated with the I-League club Minerva Punjab FC. Jeakson switched from CFA to Minerva Punjab FC after graduating from CFA.

Minerva Punjab FC CEO and owner Ranjit Bajaj fell short of words to describe his excitement and pride as his Club/Academy is one of the contributors to the young Indian team that will take the big stage tonight.