A boy, a ball, and a dream

Wangshem Konyak returns to where it all began

Rebecca Kits Jakhalu
Kohima | July 31

Just a few weeks ago, a 12-year-old boy from Nagaland made news as he stood on European soil celebrating one of the biggest achievements of his young football career. When Minerva Academy FC won the prestigious Gothia Cup 2026 (World Youth Cup) in Gothenburg, Sweden, earlier this July, Wangshem Konyak shot to fame, with his name flooding regional headlines overnight.

The team had also won the Helsinki Cup in Finland earlier, where Wangshem scored four goals, followed by nine goals in the Gothia Cup, including two hat-tricks during the knockout stages.

Hailing from Tanhai, a remote village in Wakching Circle of Mon district, Wangshem became one of the youngest footballers from Nagaland to taste international success. This feat did not go unnoticed, as photos of the young, soft-spoken and shy boy from Mon holding up the trophy were shared across thousands of screens.

For weeks, Wangshem’s days were marked by airport receptions, traditional shawls, felicitations, speeches by local leaders, and camera flashes that seemed never to stop.

Way back home
At present, Wangshem is back at the place where he first fell in love with the game. Speaking to The Morung Express from his hometown, Wangshem and his father recounted their experience.

While preparations were being made for Wangshem’s homecoming, tragedy struck Mon district prior to his arrival. A devastating cloudburst and incessant heavy rainfall triggered massive landslides, resulting in deaths, multiple injuries, and widespread destruction. With road access cut off, Wangshem’s parents, Y Pongshing Konyak and W Liphen Konyak, walked nearly 20 kilometres from Tanhai to receive their son.

“The roads were cut off and vehicles could not ply. The only alternative was to walk, and so we set out on foot. It took us nearly two hours to reach Mon town,” Pongshing recalled. After the reception at Mon town, they set out for Tanhai, where young Wangshem was accorded a hero’s welcome, with felicitation programmes organised by the church, various organisations and student bodies.
“I felt very happy,” said Wangshem shyly, as he enjoys his reunion with his family.

Lessons from Europe
Recalling his time in Sweden, Wangshem said, “Everything there was so clean, and the facilities were also really advanced.”

But it was the level of competition that left the deepest impression on the 12-year-old. Having experienced playing in Europe for the first time, Wangshem said the biggest difference lay in the technical quality of the game. Playing and winning against highly tactical teams from across the globe made the victory even more special, he said.

The first person Wangshem called after winning was his father.

“We won,” he recalled saying over the phone.

This meant so much more to Pongshing, for whom encouraging the boy’s relentless obsession was never a question, but rather the continuation of a quiet family legacy.

“Football is simply in our blood,” Pongshing explained. “Both his grandfather and I love football and we used to play too, but back then, the roads did not lead anywhere beyond the district. We did not have the platform or support to see how far we could go,” he added.

A dream that began at three
Watching his son’s natural talent flourish, Pongshing was determined to let him pursue his passion.

“Wangshem’s love for football started very early, when he was around three years old. He would even sleep with the ball,” he shared. Seeing how deeply he cared for the game, Pongshing and his family became Wangshem’s biggest supporters. In 2022, Wangshem was among those selected during the Khelo India U-14 trials organised by the Mon District Football Association. He then went on to secure a scholarship at the Punjab-based Minerva Academy in 2023.

Three years later, Wangshem has already achieved what many young footballers can only dream of.

When asked if homesickness ever crept in while being away from home at such a young age, the young midfielder responded simply, “Not much,” adding that his love and passion for football have helped him settle into life away from home.

Challenges along the way
When asked about the challenges faced along the way, Pongshing said they had been fortunate. “There have been struggles, for sure. But by God’s grace, we have not faced any unbearable challenge till date,” he shared. “In 2023, we surrendered our son and his dreams to God, and He has carried us through,” he said, adding that the family has remained focused on supporting their son despite the hardships that come with living in a remote village.

For Wangshem, however, the biggest setback came on the pitch. During the tournament in Europe, he reportedly suffered an ankle injury that briefly posed a setback to his campaign. The young footballer recalled it as a tough moment, from which he eventually recovered and continued with the team.

The journey continues
Now, with the whirlwind of celebrations behind him, Wangshem’s focus has shifted back to the journey ahead. His month-long break will end in August. After that, he will return to the structured routine of early morning drills, tactical sessions and training.

But for now, with the medals and trophies set aside, Wangshem is back on the same patch of ground in Tanhai where, at the age of three, he first began chasing a dream.