Indian Footballers to Train at Manchester United’s Old Trafford
Three promising Indian footballers, along with two others from Nepal and Thailand, have earned the opportunity to train at the iconic Old Trafford stadium in Manchester. The players were selected through the fourth edition of United We Play, a grassroots football initiative launched by Manchester United.
The event witnessed the participation of over 15,000 aspiring Indian footballers across 18 cities. The grand finale, held in Chandigarh, featured the presence of Manchester United legend Gary Neville.
After a series of intense matches, PC Lalchhuanawma (Mizoram), Shreejal Kisku (Bhubaneswar), and Mohd Ayan (Lucknow) emerged as the top Indian players. They were joined by Nepal’s Bhakta Bahadur Pariyar and Chanason Chaiyatham from Bangkok.
These five young footballers will now embark on a once-in-a-lifetime experience at Old Trafford. They will participate in a match-day experience, receive training from Manchester United Soccer School coaches, and interact with club legends.
“It’s a dream come true,” said Lalchhuanawma, who plays as a defender. “I’ve always wanted to visit Old Trafford and now I’m going to train there. I can’t wait to learn from the best.”
Gary Neville, who won eight English Premier League titles and two UEFA Champions League titles with Manchester United, expressed his delight at the initiative. “I’m thrilled to see the passion and dedication for football among young children in India,” he said. “Congratulations to the young players whose hard work has paid off. I’m sure that the experience they will have at Old Trafford will be memories of a lifetime.”
The launch of the fourth edition of United We Play took place in Kolkata in December 2023, where former Manchester United and French footballer Louis Saha kicked off the program. The initiative aims to promote grassroots football development and provide opportunities for young players to showcase their talent.
