Chennaiyin FC’s under-12 team pulled off a remarkable 4-2 victory over German giants Borussia Dortmund at the prestigious Norwich City Mina Cup UK, highlighting the growing promise of Indian football on the global stage.
The two-day tournament, held at Norwich City FC’s top-notch training facility in England, saw the young Marina Machans deliver an inspiring performance, with Manipur-born forward Nepolian Laikhuram at the heart of their success.
Facing Borussia Dortmund, known for their elite academy that has produced stars like Christian Pulisic and Mario Götze, Chennaiyin FC’s young guns showed no fear. Nepolian Laikhuram, the star of the match, netted all four goals for Chennaiyin in a stunning individual display. His performance was not only key to the victory but also showed the attacking talent emerging from India’s youth football ranks.
Nepolian’s heroics continued throughout the tournament as he finished with six goals, including a brace in Chennaiyin’s 2-0 victory over Bermuda FA. Other notable contributions came from Rohit Tenshubam and Hitaansh Dipesh, who added to Chennaiyin’s goal tally across the event.
Reflecting on the team’s success, Chennaiyin FC Vice President Ekansh Gupta praised the young players’ resilience and grit, particularly after tough losses to European powerhouses Inter Milan (0-1) and Liverpool (0-2) during the group stages.
“We are thrilled with the grit and determination of our young stars at the Norwich City Mina Cup UK,” Gupta said. “There were losses, but they took them well, and then a win against Borussia Dortmund on day two! It truly highlighted the potential of Indian football on an international stage.”
Chennaiyin’s participation in the tournament, the only club from India to compete, culminated in qualification for the Silver Cup. After narrowly losing to Inter and Liverpool, the team bounced back to beat Bermuda FA twice—once in the group stage and again in the placement matches—before their memorable win against Dortmund.
The under-12 squad returned home having gained invaluable international experience, competing against top European academies and demonstrating the progress of Indian football at the youth level.
