Aimed at uplifting sports in the State particularly football, the Ryntih Sports & Cultural Club has signed an agreement with Minerva Academy to set up an academy at Diengpasoh, East Khasi Hills.
Addressing media persons here today, the CEO of Ryntih Club Samran Syiem informed that the club in partnership with the Diengpasoh community has agreed to set up a football and sports development facility and a cultural and youth development centre in the area for the primary purpose of promoting the youth potential.
Informing that the Dorbar Shnong of Diengpasoh has leased out land of 15 acres for 40 years, he said that Ryntih Club has also signed an agreement with Minerva to build the football academy.
Syiem also said that construction works will kick start once the head of the Minerva Academy Ranjit Bajaj comes and lays the foundation stone for the same at Diengpasoh.
“Our player’s performance in the second division I-League of the All India Federation was appreciated by many even though we didn’t emerge winners. After this we got an opportunity to meet with the head of the Minerva Academy Ranjit Bajaj at Chandigarh where we discussed how to uplift football and other sports in Meghalaya and we signed the agreement,” Syiem said adding that they want to replicate the academy just like the Minerva Academy at Chandigarh equipped with training centres, accommodation for the players, coach, staff, etc.
The Ryntih Club CEO said that the main objective of the project is to contribute to the “10 in 10” vision of the State by engaging in the socio-economic benefits of sports with focus on football and youth development by adopting a holistic development model that engages all stakeholders (athletes and community) and also accommodate elite football training, to promote sports development in the region, to facilitate talent identification (scouting) and talent incubation (academy), to facilitate the right pathway for player development and sporting career and to develop sports human resources such as coaches, trainers, match officials and sports promoters.
He also said that the facility will also provide access to equal opportunities for the youth of the region and more importantly, it will initiate a ‘decentralised development system’ for the Government of Meghalaya which can be replicated throughout the districts, where the government along with organisations come together for the common goal of serving the people of Meghalaya.
General Manager of Minerva Academy Harshit Tyagi said that the aim of the project is for players from the North East and Meghalaya to get a platform to showcase their sporting talents and get a chance to develop and excel.
“We are pleased to announce that we will be collaborating on this project with Ryntih Club with a very high ambition and passion to promote sports and to get football together as a whole,” Tyagi said adding that Minerva will help Ryntih Club to develop the centre of excellence and conduct exclusive camps and trials within the facilities and help the club have access to all the coaches of Minerva and also train the youth at Chandigarh, etc.
“We will be creating strategic plans with timelines and get things done,” he added.
