TEAM HERALD
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MARGAO: Salgaocar Football Club alongwith Salcete Football Club will organize a two-day under-13 football festival in association with Banking Consortium of Bank of India, Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank on February 23 and 24 at Nehru Stadium outside ground, Fatorda from 9 a.m.
| BASICS FIRST: Salcete FC president Joe Dias addressing the media in the presence of Angelo Almeida, Anthony Pango, Swati Salgaocar, Anil Katale, Jacinto Fernandes in Margao, Wednesday. |
The grassroots festival is being organized to discover talent in under-13 category. In all, 16 teams from all over Goa will participate.
Salgaocar Football Club’s youth development programme has been recognized as one of the best in the country, catering to various age- groups such as under-12, under-13, under-15, under-16, under-18, under-20.
Salcete Football Club, which is in the First Division, is well known as the nursery of football, fielding under-14, under-16, under-18 teams with many of their players having made it to the top of Indian football. Salcete have been grooming youngsters and have never looked back as far as youth development is concerned.
Given their passion and commitment, the two clubs have now come together in launching the festival involving mainly school students.
Fr Agnel Multipurpose High School, Verna; Auxilium High School, Taleigao; Regina Mundi HIGH School, Vasco; Loyola High School, Margao; Marina English High School, Verna; Blessed Joseph Vaz High School, Sancoale; Our Lady of Snows, Raia; King’s School Sao Jose de Areal; Our Lady of Perpetual High School, Cortalim; CRSC, Navelim; Ponda Footballers; Sirlim Sports Club, Youth Futsal Academy, Bresources Betalbatim and Ave Maria A and W Club, Benaulim are among those who have confirmed their entries. The winners, runners-up will be presented special prizes besides trophies and individual prizes.
Salgaocar Football Club has a tie-up with Loyola High School and Mae dos Pobres High School, Nuvem where support is given to the football teams by providing football kit and other football related assistance such as programmes on nutrition, fitness for youth footballers.
Salcete Football Club has partnered with Our Lady of Rosary High School, Fatorda and Rosary
Higher Secondary School, Navelim besides fielding teams in GFA’s under-14, under-16 and under-18 programmes.
Bank of India will focus on sharp shooting skills while Syndicate Bank and Canara Bank will look for juggling abilities and tyre-shooting contest.
Swati Salgaocar, daughter of Shivanand Salgaocar said that football in India is in the growing stage with AIFF and its technical director Rob Ban trying to lay importance on youth development.
“Salgaocar Football Club has always been a step ahead of the rest as far as youth development is concerned. Salgaocar are committed to Goa’s progress and are passionate about football. It is with this in mind that our club president Shivanand conceptualized the youth development programme,” pointed out Swati.
Joe Dias, president of Salcete Football Club, remarked that the club believes in grassroots and youth development as the basis of football growth in the State as well as the country and recalled that the club has shaped the career of several footballers who are now playing in I-League.
“Salcete have always been providing a strong basis for football development with our mentor being former AIFF general secretary and ex-GFA secretary Alberto Colaco who is at the heart of the present festival also, like in the past,” commented Dias.
Anil Katale, assistant branch manager, Bank of India, Vasco, said that the bank has a close association with Salgaocar. “Our commitment
is towards the development of a healthy nation and sports is the right medium for the same. Inculcation of values is important.”
Elaine Colaco, additional secretary, Youth Development, Salgaocar Football Club presented the road map for the festival, outlining its objectives.
Alberto Colaco, Anthony Pango, assistant general secretary, Salcete Football Club and GFA Executive member, Angelo Almeida, Salcete’s executive member were also present at the press briefing.
