Shillong, June 2: In a landmark initiative for grassroots football in Meghalaya, the state’s U-20 boys’ football team is all set to embark on an elite 20-day training camp at the prestigious Olympique Lyonnais Academy in Lyon, France, from June 5 to 25.
A send-off ceremony was held on Monday in Shillong, graced by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, who called the programme a strategic investment into the future of sports and youth development in the state.
Addressing the 28-member squad, Sangma emphasised that Meghalaya’s greatest strength lies in its youthful population and the government’s mission is to tap into this potential through sustained support to sports and related infrastructure. “When the file came to me, I approved it without a second thought—even though the programme costs ₹2.80 crore. Because to me, this is not an expenditure, it’s an investment,” said the Chief Minister.
Highlighting the long-term vision for football in the state, he noted, “If even one of you makes it to the ISL, the investment in this programme will be returned in a single season. That is the belief we carry, and that is the reason why we are sending you to France—to invest in the future of Meghalaya football.”
Sangma further revealed that the state is on track to have close to 50 artificial football turfs along with the largest football stadium in the country in the coming years. “From player development and club support to infrastructure and global exposure—everything is part of our broader roadmap for youth and sports in Meghalaya,” he added.
Encouraging the players to make the most of the opportunity, Sangma said, “Take every moment seriously. You are not just representing yourselves but the hopes of the state. Absorb every experience, learn and come back stronger—not just as better footballers, but as individuals ready to lead.”
The training camp has been made possible through the collaboration of the Directorate of Sports and the Meghalaya Football Association (MFA). The selected squad had earlier undergone a month-long intensive coaching camp at the SSA Ground and also delivered an impressive performance at the U-20 Nationals in Chhattisgarh, where they reached the semi-finals for the first time.
The team will be captained by defender Rimankhraw Kharumnuid and is expected to gain significant exposure and insights from the international training camp.
