When the world was watching the World Cup 2026, India too became one of the largest sources of viewership. Yet, for many football fans, it was uncomfortable not seeing India on the biggest stage, leaving little hope for the future.
Then came Minerva Academy’s U-12 boys, all from India’s North East. They stunned everyone by scoring 138 goals in 12 matches in Europe, defeating some of the world’s biggest clubs and emerging as champions.
These boys were picked from grassroots football in villages across the North East and taken to Europe by Ranjit Bajaj, where they achieved something Indian football had hardly dared to dream of. Suddenly, hope returned. Maybe just 1%, but that hope now rests with these U-12 boys and Coach Bajaj.
Manipur’s “Kipgen”, a boy now known by many, showcased immense talent and composure in midfield. As the World Cup ended, Indian football fans found a reason to dream again. Not necessarily of winning the FIFA World Cup, but even seeing India reach the group stage one day would be a historic achievement.
Sikkim’s Sports Department now needs to focus and act with fair selections based on merit, not connections. There are many talented young kids across every corner of Sikkim waiting for an opportunity. At present, Independence Academy is among the few institutions consistently nurturing young footballers. We do not want our future talents to remain confined to Independence Day tournaments and local leagues. We want them to compete on the national and global stage. At the same time, we must support them whenever they earn opportunities.
Minerva has always shown complete faith in North East players. Once upon a time, Namchi Football Academy was the powerhouse of Sikkim football. Opponents feared playing against them. Many people still remember their goalkeeper, famous for his flying saves. The problem was not the talent; the problem was that we failed to place those players on a pathway that could lead them to the national level. Instead, many remained limited to local tournaments and leagues, which did little to advance their football careers.
The Sports Department invests heavily in football, yet a serious question remains. Why has Sikkim struggled to identify and develop top U-15 talent when states like Meghalaya and Manipur continue to produce promising players? Sikkim has no shortage of grassroots footballers. It has quality grounds and football infrastructure in places like Namchi and Gangtok. The talent exists; the effort to identify and nurture it must improve.
Every year, Sikkim hosts hundreds of football matches during Independence Day celebrations and local tournaments. While these events are important, they often become entertainment rather than a serious search for talent. A player may win “Player of the Match” in a final, receive a trophy and some prize money, and then disappear from the football system. Nobody follows up on where that player goes next or how his talent can be developed further.
A larger section of society must focus on what truly matters. If a player is genuinely talented, he should be identified early and guided towards academies such as “Lokendra Football Academy”, where proper training, exposure, and pathways to higher-level football can be provided. Through partnerships with institutions like Minerva Academy and North East football trials, talented players can be prepared for bigger opportunities.
It has been a long time since Sikkim has produced a footballer who has made a significant impact on the national stage. If we fail to recognise and nurture talent today, we may regret it tomorrow. Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh are continuously producing footballers who compete at higher levels. Sikkim cannot afford to be left behind.
The time has come to identify exceptional young players, invest in their development, and place them in academies that can guide and nurture them properly. With U-15 and U-17 World Cups on the horizon, the focus should not only be on organising tournaments but on creating footballers capable of representing India. The future of Sikkim football depends on the choices we make today.
