Punjab Sports Department has proudly announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MINERVA Football Academy’s Delhi FC to allow the club to utilise the newly constructed sports stadium in Mahilpur, located in Hoshiarpur district, for the upcoming season of the I-League, organised by the All India Football Federation.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone in Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led State Government’s commitment to promoting the development of sports and fostering young talent. This partnership to organise I-League matches will not only strengthen Punjab’s sports ecosystem but also support young athletes aspiring to professional careers in football.
The team will play 12 matches at the venue starting 19th December 2024 until the end of the I-League season in April 2025. As is the culture in Mahilpur, all matches are expected to be full house with some fans even travelling from different states of the country. It is interesting to note that the 2024–25 I-League season has 12 teams competing from various states across India including traditional heavyweights like Dempo SC and Churchill Brothers.
This season, the I-League matches will be broadcast live on TV on Eurosport India with online streaming on the FanCode platform, bringing Mahilpur to the national arena. Minerva FC CEO Ranjit Baja said that all the football fans in the state are very happy with this development and thanked Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and the Sports Department for their support.
Director Sports Harpreet Singh Sudan said that the state Government remains committed to providing facilities and platforms that nurture talent and uphold Punjab’s legacy in Indian sports. Mahilpur, the "Mecca & Nursery of Indian Football," has a rich football legacy dating back to the pre-independence era, with many national players hailing from this town.
The district of Hoshiarpur has always been at the forefront and contributed significantly to Punjab’s sports culture, not only in football but across multiple disciplines, making it a fitting location for this collaboration. The Punjab Government recognises the potential of Mahilpur and aims to revitalise its historic sports culture through initiatives like this.
Since 2022, the Punjab government has been taking various progressive steps for the development of sports. Its key initiatives include the launch of the Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan in 2022, a grassroots sports festival involving over 445070 participants across various age categories and sports, demonstrating Punjab’s emphasis on inclusive sports development.
This year, Kheda Watan Punjab Diyan is also being organised for Para Athletes for the first time.