New Delhi: Youth development is often an afterthought for Indian football clubs but Punjab FC have emerged as a noticeable and refreshing exception to it.
Seven victories in 11 age-group tournaments competed in the last two years point towards it and show they have laid foundations from which they could benefit in the future.
In 2024, they won the Reliance Foundation Development League and the Dream Sports Championship (U-17) apart from defeating English Premier League sides Aston Villa and Everton in the Next Gen Cup.
This year they have done even better, lifting the U-15 and U-17 Reliance Football Youth Sports Championships and capped it off with the AIFF Youth League (U-17) and AIFF Junior League (U-15) titles.
The youth league and junior league triumphs came in the space of two weeks, with their U-17 boys thumping Jamshedpur FC 4-1 in the final on May 14 while the U-15 kids defeated Minerva Academy 1-0 in the title round on May 28.
Punjab would now keep an eye on the likes of Karish Soram, Ashish Lohar, Vikash Kisku and Usham Thoungamba Singh, who scored for them in the U-17 final, and nurture them towards their senior team once they graduate next year.
“Our focus is obviously centred on players development. In order to achieve that, we try put the players in a context of decision making, where they choose the best options during the different situations and moments of the game,” Giuseppe Cristaldi, Punjab’s technical director for youth teams, told News9 Sports.
“We don’t want robots, but thinking players. We emphasize the individual technical aspect and the tactical flexibility to be able to adjust to different systems, but always keeping and following our principles and identity.
“The physical component is very important as a strong integrated part of our coaching methodology. And finally, especially for the older groups, the mental aspect is extremely important to start developing a winning mentality which can prepare them for the next step, senior football.”
Progression to senior team
Apart from excelling in the age-group circuit, Punjab have also successfully intergrated colts into their senior team that finished 10th among 13 teams in the to-flight Indian Super League.
Tekcham Abhishek Singh, Muhammad Suhail, Manglenthang Kipgen, Shami Singamayum, Vishal Yadav, Pramveer and Omang Dodum were part of Panagiotis Dilmperis’ plans in the senior team last season.
Kipgen, an academy to first team product, Suhail and Pramveer are part of the 29 India U-23 team probables called up for a camp in Kolkata from June 1. Prabhu flew out to Thailand as part of the 28-member senior national squad that would play in a friendly on June 4.
“From youths to senior we talk about concluding a path, and starting a new journey. The evaluation is made analyzing the four areas: technical, tactical, physical and mental.
“The player must be fully ready to match the quality level, the intensity, the physicality and the pressure of senior football, which is a completely different context,” Cristaldi said on progression pathway of players, adding that each player is evaluated every quarter with a specific ‘player card’.
Punjab FC players celebrate after winning the AIFF U-17 league title. Photo: @IndianFootball
In the transfer market too Punjab players are much in demand, with defender Abhishek and medio Prabhu being wooed by multiple ISL clubs, including Shield-Cup double champions Mohun Bagan, former champs Mumbai City, East Bengal and Kerala Blasters.
They could be available at the ‘right price’, which would enable Punjab to re-invest a chunk of the received money back into their youth-producing system that operates out of Tangori, Punjab.
Punjab won the 2022-23 I-League to get promoted to the ISL, where they finished eight on debut and 10th last season.
While inability to reach the semi-finals in the first two appearances suggest they are a work in progress at the senior level, they can safely claim to have aced the youth level stage, earning the ISL award for Best Elite Youth Program.
Punjab FC have won seven of the 11 age-group tournaments thet they have competed in the last two years. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
