Union MoS Raksha Khadse visits NorthEast United FC, commends club's grassroots talent development model
New Delhi, May 31
Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, Raksha Khadse, visited NorthEast United FC and interacted with the club's management, coaching staff and young footballers, appreciating the club's efforts towards identifying and nurturing football talent from across the country, particularly from the North East region, on Sunday.
According to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the visit was attended by Mandar Tamhane, Chief Executive Officer, NorthEast United FC; Rohit Thorat; Naushad Moosa, Technical Director and Reserve Team Head Coach; along with members of the club's management team, coaching staff and young footballers, according to a release.
During the interaction, the club's leadership briefed Raksha Khadse on NorthEast United FC's youth development philosophy, talent identification framework and long-term vision for creating a sustainable pathway for young footballers.
The Minister was informed about the club's extensive talent scouting initiative led by Naushad Moosa, under which coaches travelled across various parts of the country to identify promising young footballers.
Players were scouted through the club's network of coaches and former players, youth competitions organised by the All India Football Federation, and continuous monitoring of players representing India at youth national team levels.
As part of the selection process, nearly 60 promising young players were invited to Guwahati for final selection trials. The selected players are expected to form the core of the club's Under-18 and Reserve Team setup, further strengthening NorthEast United FC's long-term player development pathway.
Raksha Khadse appreciated the club's structured approach towards talent identification and athlete development and highlighted the importance of creating strong grassroots-to-elite pathways for young sportspersons.
"The future of Indian football depends on our ability to identify talent early, provide quality coaching and create structured opportunities for progression. Initiatives that combine grassroots scouting, athlete development and long-term planning are critical for strengthening India's football ecosystem," the Union MoS said.
The Minister noted that the North East continues to be one of India's strongest sporting regions and has consistently produced exceptional football talent. She emphasised that sustained investments in coaching, infrastructure and scientific athlete development would help unlock even greater potential from the region.
Raksha Khadse also reiterated the Government's commitment to promoting grassroots sports, strengthening athlete development systems and creating greater opportunities for young sportspersons across the country.
The visit formed part of her engagements in Meghalaya and the North East aimed at reviewing sports infrastructure, athlete development initiatives and youth-focused programmes in the region.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally some attention to the North East's sporting potential! I've seen how kids in Manipur and Mizoram play football with such passion despite limited facilities. But let's be honest - one visit won't change much unless there's consistent funding and infrastructure upgrade. The minister should also look at why so many talented players from the region end up playing for other states' clubs. Hope this isn't just a photo opportunity.
Great to see the government backing grassroots football development. The scouting model described here - using network of coaches, former players and youth competitions - is similar to what European clubs do. But India needs more than just scouting; we need quality coaching at the district level and better school sports infrastructure. Hopefully this initiative by NEUFC inspires other ISL clubs to follow suit.
As a proud Assamese, this makes me happy! The North East has immense football talent but lack of opportunities often forces talented players to quit. NEUFC's focus on U-18 and Reserve teams is crucial - we need proper pathways for young players to transition from academy to professional football. Hope the government also focuses on sports science and nutrition facilities in the region. 🙏
Good initiative but I'm skeptical. How many such visits actually lead to concrete outcomes? The minister talked about 'sustained investments' but does the budget reflect that? India has produced world-class cricketers because of systematic investment over decades. Football needs similar long-term commitment, not just one-off visits. Still, credit to NEUFC for their grassroots work - they're one of the few ISL clubs genuinely investing in local talent.
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