Minerva secret: Simple football
NEW DELHI: The meteoric rise of Minerva Punjab FC started in 2015 when they claimed the Senior State Football Championship title in Chandigarh, beating Liberty Football Club on the final day of the season. They followed it up with a brilliant show in their maiden I-League second division season in 2015/16, and despite finishing behind Dempo in the final round, they were able to become a part of the I-League top tier through one of the two corporate entry slots.
In their debut campaign, the newly-promoted side struggled to keep up with the more established opponents in the top-flight and a ninth-place finish saw their season end in disappointment.
This season, however, has been a completely different story for the Punjab-based club. They released all their foreign signings at the start of the season and concentrated on acquiring players who suited their style of play.
The club decided to stop chasing big names. Instead, players like Chencho Gyeltshen, William Opoku and Guy Eric Dano, who were seen as being more in sync to their playing style, were roped in ahead of the new campaign. The impact was almost instantaneous as they combined with the local players to hand Minerva a brilliant start to the I-League with four wins and a draw from their first five games.
Khogen Singh, their coach, broke down the team’s philosophy in simple terms. “Our aim this season was to play simple football. We did not want to play long balls and that is why, the team concentrated on short and precise passing.” he said.
“We are focusing on fitness. Hold a game up to 60 or 70 minutes, and then take it to a definite end. They are young and that’s why they need to be given that confidence,” he added.
The coach also mentioned the contribution of the club’s foreign signings and there is a very good reason behind it. Bhutan striker Chencho Gyeltshen, who was rejected by both Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, has been a revelation for his team with six goals. His partnership with William Opuku at the heart of the team’s attack has been instrumental in taking Minerva to the top.
However, when asked about his heroics this season, Chencho made it clear that the time for celebrations is not here yet. With five matches to go, Minerva need a maximum of 10 points to secure the title and that is the only goal for Chencho at the moment.
Talking over the phone, Chencho said, “I am happy with my performance this season. However, the season is going down to the wire and right now, I want to win the title for my team.”