Exclusive: Even If all of my players go away I don't have any problem- Ranjit Bajaj

The Minerva Punjab owner pointed out his side's need for a better ground in the future.

Current I-league champion Minerva Punjab's owner Ranjit Bajaj isn't going over the moon with his team becoming being the champions of India and feels that legacy is made not just by winning titles, but by producing players for your own national team and ensuring that they perform well for the country. 

"To be honest I'm not happy with the title. I want to produce more and more players so that they can go on and represent their country in the future," Bajaj said speaking exclusively to Khel Now on the sidelines of the Super Cup on Saturday. "Like the way Jeakson Singh's name has been etched in the history books of Indian football, it will also be written there that Jeakson is from my club."

Bajaj also feels that the country should follow the European style of making and grooming players who will give better results in the future. "If you check other European or African countries you will see that players start training at the age of six or seven and by the time that player is 16 or 17 years, he is playing in the top tier football and India should adopt that model. The likes of Ousmane Dembele and Marcus Rashford came that way only," Bajaj added. 

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However, Bajaj credited his boys heavily for putting in the hard work all through the season. "All credit goes to the boys. The hard work they have put in all these days is incredible. There were times they used to do three sessions a day and the results are here now. We are the champions of India," the youngest owner of an Indian football club asserted. Bajaj also lauded the eagerness to do something and the hunger for glory that has put the boys on top today. 

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Meanwhile, the entrepreneur stated that he won't be pressuring any player to stay back at the club. "I want that every one of them should play for big clubs and make a name for themselves. I won't hold them back. Even If all of my (players) go away I don't have any problem because I have more players ready waiting at the door to step up," he pointed out. 

However, Bajaj is hopeful that the government of Punjab will provide them with a proper ground for the club now. "I agree that we have the worst ground in India. I have repeatedly told the state government about our plight. I hope they will look into the matter now as we are the champions of India and the only team from North India to do it for the first time," he finished off.