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Three Indian footballers were among the five selected players who got a dream opportunity to attend training sessions at Old Trafford under Manchester United Soccer School coaches. These footballers were selected among 15,000 participants. United We Play, which is in its fourth edition, is a grassroot-level football initiative that aims to pick the best players from different regions. This year, the event, which was held in Chandigarh, saw participation from across 18 cities, who got to represent their cities in the finale in the presence of United legend Gary Neville.
The shortlisted players include PC Lalchhuanawma (Mizoram), Shreejal Kisku (Bhubaneswar), Mohd Ayan (Lucknow), Bhakta Bahadur Pariyar (Nepal) and Chanason Chaiyatham (Bangkok) from the 15,000 participants. Notably, this is a lifetime opportunity for these five young aspiring footballers, who will be trained under top coaches and will visit Old Trafford.
Indian footballers to feature in United We Play campaign
United We Play, an initiative by Apollo Tyres in collaboration with Manchester United, is organized to pick and nurture young talents from different parts of India. Every year, more than 10,000 aspirants take part in this initiative, and only the top ones make it to the final. The 2024 edition was expanded to Asia Pacific and the Middle East, picking talents from Nepal, Bangkok, Dubai, and other regions.
Neville praised the initiative and hailed the efforts of young talents from these regions to take up football as a career seriously. "Delighted to see the dedication and passion for football among young children in India. Investing in youth development is extremely important, and I am very pleased to see the efforts of Manchester United and its partners in having built this platform, which encourages the youth to pursue their passion for football,” said Neville, who was a member of Man United’s famed Class of 92’.
Neville also congratulated the five young winners and advised all aspiring footballers. He stressed the importance of maintaining a balanced perspective while playing the game. “Football is a game of ups and downs, both on and off the field. Emotions run high, but it’s important to maintain a balanced perspective,” Neville said. “As you grow physically and mentally, remember that persistence and resilience are key. Learning from mistakes and overcoming challenges will help you succeed in football and life,” he added.
