Mankind Pharma partners Minerva Academy to support India’s young footballers

NEW DELHI: Mankind Pharma is giving Indian football a shot in the arm. The pharmaceutical company has partnered with Minerva Academy Football Club to support grassroots football, with its branding set to feature on the jerseys of three youth teams competing in domestic and international tournaments over the coming year.

Under the partnership, the Mankind Pharma logo will appear on the front and back of the academy’s age-group team jerseys, providing the company with visibility across some of the world’s leading youth football competitions while backing the development of young Indian players.

Founded in 2015 by Ranjit Bajaj, Minerva Academy has emerged as one of India’s most successful football development programmes. The academy won the 2025 Gothia Cup in Sweden to become World Youth Champions and has produced more than 240 international players across various age groups.

The academy has continued its success this year, with its Under-12 team, representing India, winning both the Gothia Cup B-12 2026 and the Helsinki Cup 2026.

Its long-term vision, branded as the “World Cup Batch 2034”, aims to develop a generation of players capable of helping India qualify for a future FIFA World Cup.

“At Mankind Pharma, our purpose has always extended beyond medicine to the wellbeing of the nation. Football builds discipline, teamwork and ambition in our young people, and Minerva Academy has shown the world what Indian talent can achieve. We are proud to stand behind these teams as they carry the country’s hopes onto the global stage,” Mankind Pharma vice chairman and managing director Rajeev Juneja said.

Welcoming the partnership, Minerva Academy Football Club founder and director Ranjit Bajaj said, “This backing from Mankind Pharma comes at a defining moment for Indian football. Support from a homegrown leader allows our players to train, travel and compete with the very best, and brings us one step closer to our dream of seeing India at the FIFA World Cup. We are grateful for their belief in our young footballers.”

For Mankind Pharma, the partnership marks a broader push into sports beyond cricket. While cricket continues to dominate India’s sporting landscape, football’s popularity has grown steadily, particularly among younger audiences and aspiring athletes.

The company said it hopes the collaboration will encourage more children and young people to pursue football while creating greater opportunities for emerging talent through structured grassroots development.

As corporate backing for Indian football gradually increases, partnerships such as this are becoming an important source of support for academies working to build the country’s next generation of players and strengthen its presence on the international stage.