Shillong, Aug 5: Meghalaya’s football ambitions received a major boost on Tuesday as Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma met Minerva Academy FC Founder and Director Ranjit Bajaj in New Delhi for a discussion centred on the future of football in the state.
The meeting, which lasted for around 30 minutes, brought together two of Indian football’s most passionate advocates to exchange ideas on grassroots development, infrastructure, talent identification and creating a long-term pathway for Meghalaya to emerge as one of the country’s leading footballing states.
Following the meeting, Bajaj praised the Chief Minister’s vision for football, describing him as a leader who understands both the aspirations of the people and what it takes to produce champions. “I’ve just met a Chief Minister who really understands the pulse of the people. More importantly, he understands exactly what it takes to bring champions out,” Bajaj said in a video message.
The Minerva Academy chief also expressed admiration for Meghalaya’s football culture, saying the state’s passion for the sport makes it one of the most exciting football destinations in the country. “You guys can play great football,” he said, while recalling the overwhelming reception given to young Meghalaya footballers Donald Myrthong and Mekhamkhraw Nongrem following their return after winning the U-12 Gothia Cup in Sweden. “The kind of welcome you gave Donald and Makem shows that Meghalaya is my home,” he added.
Bajaj also commended Meghalaya’s matrilineal society, saying it reflects the values instilled in its people and contributes to the state’s unique identity.
One of the key areas of discussion was football infrastructure. Bajaj, who has previously criticised the lack of dedicated football stadiums in India, said he was delighted to learn about Meghalaya’s plans to develop two world-class football-specific stadiums.
“I’ve made famous statements that India doesn’t even have one football-specific stadium. I’m so happy to know that Meghalaya is going to be the state that will have not one but two world-class football-specific stadiums. That’s why the changes are going to happen,” he said.
The conversation also focused on strengthening the football ecosystem through grassroots initiatives, including baby leagues, youth competitions and futsal. Bajaj said these initiatives, combined with investment in infrastructure, could transform Meghalaya into one of India’s premier football hubs.
“I think Meghalaya is going to be the leading state in football in the coming days because they’re getting their act together and building a strong foundation. The future of Meghalaya, at least in football, is going to be awesome,” he said.
The meeting is significant as it signals a possible collaboration between the Meghalaya government and one of India’s most successful football academies. Widely known as “The Factory”, Minerva Academy has produced more than 240 India internationals across various age groups and has established itself as one of the country’s leading centres for player development.
While no formal partnership was announced, Chief Minister Sangma has invited Bajaj to continue the discussions during his visit to Shillong on August 13 and 14. Bajaj is expected to present a detailed roadmap on how Meghalaya can further strengthen its football ecosystem and accelerate the development of young talent.
If realised, such a collaboration could provide Meghalaya’s footballers with greater exposure, improved development pathways and access to one of India’s most successful youth football systems, strengthening the state’s growing reputation as one of the country’s football heartlands.
