Punjab: Gujjarwal Football Academy is preparing players from villages

Punjab: The Gujjarwal Football Academy near Jodhan, around 30 km from Ludhiana city, has set an example of sorts by inculcating a sportsmanship in the youth of the village. The academy has produced over 50 players, both boys and girls, who have played at the state and national level. Recently, some of the players from the academy attended an international training camp in Austria. A well-maintained football ground spread over 3.5 acres on the outskirts of Gujjarwal village gives the feel of an international facility. It was constructed during the Akali Dal regime. A brainchild of Dakha MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali, the motive behind setting up the football academy was to inculcate a sportsmanship in the youth of the village and keep them away from drugs. Charanjit Singh Grewal, an NRI from Hong Kong, is the chairman of the academy. Grewal, along with like-minded NRIs and villagers, have been funding the daily functioning of the academy. Academy representative Sarabjit told The Tribune that though the playground was constructed in 2017, the villagers led by Grewal took charge of it in 2020 and resolved to hone the skills of budding footballers. In 2020, the academy had around 100 players and now the number has grown to 200. The trainees are mostly from Gujjarwal village and belong to underprivileged and middle-class families. All expenses, including the players’ diet and sports kits, are borne by the academy. According to Sarabjit, the academy has appointed four former footballers as full-time coaches. It has created three age groups of boys and girls – under-10, under-14 and under-17. “Our under-14 team has been the winner of school games three times in a row and topped the Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan twice in a row,” Sarabjit said. The academy trainees have also played for the Punjab Football Association in tournaments organised by the All India Football Federation. Sarabjit said that 31 players of the academy have participated in school games in 2024-25 and 21 players have participated at the national level in 2023-24.

Recently, a Delhi-based company had organized football trials in which 50,000 emerging players from across the country participated. Out of the 28 players shortlisted, 16 were boys and 12 were girls. Out of these, two girls of Gujjarwal Academy, Japleen Kaur and Gurleen Kaur were selected. Both were sent to participate in an international football camp in Austria for free. Japleen also participated in a camp in Germany. Prime Minister Narendra Modi felicitated Japleen and Gurleen at a recent event held in Delhi. Sarabjit said that Bhajanpreet Kaur of the academy has played national matches as part of the state football team. He said, “Our player Japjot Singh was selected by Delhi’s Sudeva Club after tough trials, where players from all over the country tried their luck.” “I am confident that players from our academy will make it to the Indian football team in future,” said Sarabjit. Dakha MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali said that during the Akali regime, he had built 70 such sports parks to provide facilities to villagers and sports lovers. Gujjarwal was the first of these. “I feel happy when I come to know that these grounds, especially Gujjarwal, are producing national level players. Such sports facilities inculcate a sportsmanship in the youth and also keep them away from drugs,” said Ayali.