With high hopes of making it to the I-LEAGUE and in to get the local connect Minerva Academy FC will be soon announcing a name change to Minerva PUNJAB FC. Minerva who along with FC Bardez and Chennai City FC had made a bid for spot in the I-LEAGUE this season, However the bid evaluation committee, after evaluation, had decided to go for a fresh round of tendering.
A club official in a statement to IFN said
” we had fulfilled all criteria of the AIFF except the 100 crore bank guarantee”
He further added
” we are the only academy in india presently having over a 100 kids in a residential training program. And we have a hydrotherapy center , a PHYSIOTHERAPY Center, a gym , a pool and 3 Full size grounds. we have made an investment of over 10 cr in just the first year”
Minerva had a very impressive debut in the I-LEAGUE 2nd division finishing winners in the western conference and were runner up to Dempo SC. The official further added that
“if we had won the last match against Dempo we would have qualified automatically. and if Dempo go out even then we will qualify as runner up. with AIFF relaxing the rules for Aizwal , putting Minerva FC in wouldn’t be a bad idea! “
(source for those comment – http://forum.indianfootballnetwork.com/discussion/137/i-league-news/p83)
