NorthEast United FC bring Durand Cup trophy to Meghalaya, engage with football lovers
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 19 2024: NorthEast United FC, winners of the 133rd Durand Cup, brought their trophy to Shillong, Meghalaya on Thursday.

They held an open training & media day in Shillong with support from the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, Government of Meghalaya, Meghalaya Football Association (MFA), and Meghalaya Tourism.

While congratulating the team, Meghalaya's chief minister Conrad K Sangma expressed the state's passion for football and anticipated positive outcomes from partnerships with the Indian Super League and NorthEast United FC.

He also highlighted plans to establish a football academy and grassroots programmes to nurture young talent, aiming to elevate football in Meghalaya to a national level.

"It is not just about the games but the larger impact that we will see especially for people who love football and our youngsters who we would like to see one day wearing that jersey and representing the country at the top level," Conrad further said.

He went on to say that NorthEast United FC coming together with other clubs will turn Meghalaya into an important hub for football, and with the setting up of the football academy, football will be given the boost it needs.

"We are also coming up with a lot of programmes at the grassroots level for picking up talent at a young age and promote them," he added.

Football fans from across different age groups including school students were given the opportunity to meet and interact with the NorthEast United FC players.

The event also featured a press conference which was attended by NEUFC CEO Mandar Tamhane, head coach Juan Pedro Benali, and club's players Redeem Tlang, Michel Zabaco and Parthib Gogoi.

Head coach Juan Pedro Benali expressed a strong connection to Shillong, emphasising that the team feels at home there.

He highlighted their growth as a team and set the goal of becoming champions.

Benali urged fans to support young players, advocate for patience, and refrain from only criticising.

"Durand Cup helped us a lot to understand ourselves, to know that we should keep working and start growing and not repeat mistakes.

We want to be an example for all the youths, to be the aim for any young one, with players who are hardworking, representing the eight North East states, that will make the youth to also want to shine," he added.

Mandar Tamhane, CEO NEUFC, thanked fans for their support and highlighted efforts to establish player pathways across the eight states and mentioned ongoing scouting for U-17 and reserved teams in six of them, with 23 players already selected.

Tamhane also expressed optimism about Shillong potentially hosting Indian Super League matches with government backing and suggested Shillong could emerge as a football hub.

Speaking on the NorthEast United FC Academy, he informed that land has already been allocated which should be handed over by the beginning of 2025, and construction will take approximately 2 years' time.

The recee that was conducted during the Durand Cup 2024 found that the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium's infrastructure is suitable for ISL games with a few minor structural changes.

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