Minerva FC owner Ranjit Bajaj carries water for players, takes motivational classes

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New Delhi, Dec 15: Ranjit Bajaj is an exceptional owner in the recent history of India’s club football. The founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Minerva Punjab FC is a sportsperson himself and makes every possible effort to make his players comfortable.

The club from Punjab that finished in the 9th position in the I-League last season is now at the top of the table with 10 points from four matches so far.

When asked about the change in team’s performance compared to last season’s poor show, Ranjit said over phone from Mohali, “We had only 12 days’ time in the last season to build up the team. Nothing could be done in terms of development. But time season, I started building up the team almost three months back.”

Despite being the owner of the club, Ranjit himself sits with the team as a manager during the matches. In spite of being the CEO, Ranjit has got the habit of watching his boys’ practice every day. It is he who serves water to the footballers, takes someone to the doctor if required, does lunch and dinner with the team almost every day.

More importantly, before the match, Ranjit takes motivation classes of his footballers. He added, “I had regularly taken motivation classes of the people who work in the Indian Army. So, I feel I am enough skilled to motivate the footballers and I do it.”

The CEO revealed he is proud that Minerva FC is not a football team. Rather it has been a family where all Indian footballers have perfectly bonded with the six foreign footballers.

According to Ranjit, “The foreign footballers are not allowed live separately. In our club hostel, they share one room each with any of the Indian footballers. The team has to do breakfast, lunch and dinner together. They also roam around together.”

Another interesting part is that the CEO has not taken any 'so-called’ star in the team to strengthen the spirit.

Even the coach Sachin Badhade, fitness trainer and the physio, none was in charge of any senior club team before.

Ranjit clarified, “I do not want any clash of personality in the team. It is a family. We will be moving towards the excellence in the ongoing I-League this season.”