Indian football club creates history winning Dana Cup for first time

Dubai: Minerva Academy Football Club etched its name in the history books by becoming the first-ever Indian club to win the prestigious Dana Cup in Denmark.

The club from Punjab dominated the entire tournament and capped off their impressive run with a resounding 15-0 win over Malta’s KFF Club in the final, clinching the Under-14 title.

This triumph came just a week after the same squad successfully defended their title at the Gothia Cup in Sweden—often referred to as the Youth World Cup — becoming the first team ever to achieve back-to-back championships.

In the Dana Cup final, Raj led the scoring spree with a hat-trick, while Rhythm, Tony Rajesh, Chetan K, Yohenba, and Denamoni each netted two goals. Ajam and Chetan T also got on the scoresheet with one goal apiece.

Minerva’s dominant form was evident throughout the knockout stages. In the semi-final, they defeated Palestine’s Rawhel 4-0, with Denamoni scoring twice and Raj and Rhythm adding one each. In the quarter-finals, they overwhelmed Artjies with a stunning 17-1 victory.

The Dana Cup, held in Hjorring, Denmark, is the third-largest youth football tournament globally, featuring over 1,000 teams from more than 45 countries. Minerva Academy wrapped up the tournament with an astonishing tally of 110 goals in seven matches, conceding just one.