Meghalaya U-20 Boys’ state team to undergo elite training camp in France

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 2, 2025

Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, today, attended the Send-Off Programme of Meghalaya U-20 Boys’ State Team for the Elite Training Camp at the Olympique Lyonnias Training Academy, Lyon, France from the 5th-25th June 2025.

Addressing the team of 28 players, Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, said that Meghalaya has a huge opportunity in its strength of young population and that the government is trying to harness this potential by investing in various youth centric programs. “When the file for this program came to me I assented without hesitation though the total expenditure for this program is 2.80 Cr because this amount is not an expenditure but an investment,” he said. Further explaining the investment strategy in the youth he added, “If any of you get makes it to the ISL in future, you will be able to get back the investment we have made in each one of you in this particular program in just one season of ISL and that is how I see the entire process of sending this team to Lyon France for 20 days’ training so it is an investment in the youth and an investment in the future for the state of Meghalaya.”

The Chief Minister also said that state in a few years time will have about fifty artificial turfs with the largest football stadium in the country. “Whether it is in the human resource or the capacity building of players or infrastructure such as stadiums and football turfs or support to football clubs and associations is a part of the larger vision that we have for the future of our youth and the state,” he said.

Talking to the players that would be undergoing the training, he urged them to take the opportunity seriously and to stay focussed. “Every single moment you are there remind yourselves of this opportunity that you are getting and seize the smallest opportunity to learn, to experience and to share and be inspired and motivated to strive for the best,” he said.

Also present were Richard Yangtham, IAS,Joint Secretary, Sports and Youth Affairs, Saloni Verma, IAS, Executive Director, MBMA, Hamlet Dohling, President, Meghalaya Football Association, D.D Shira, Director Sports and Youth Affairs among others.

The contingent for the upcoming training camp at Lyon was collected and formed with the collaboration of the the Directorate of Sports and the Meghalaya Football Association and the squad had undergone a thorough Coaching Camp at the SSA ground for more than a month and alongside, a team was formed which also participated in the U20 Nationals at Chattisgarh where the team played exceptionally well to reach the semi finals for the first time at this level of competition

The contingent will be led by the Defender, Rimankhraw Kharumnuid as the Captain.

This international exposure football training camp at Lyon organised by the Indo French Sports Association will bring experience and benefits with exposure to numerous opportunities and learnings in the world of football and beyond.