Team Herald
PANJIM: Union Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs (independent charge) Vijay Goel, on Monday, launched the logo of the first BRICS U-17 football tournament which will be held from October 5 to 15 at the ceremony held at the Bambolim stadium.
Speaking on the occasion Goel said that the tournament is an initiative to promote sports in the entire nation. Football tournament exemplifies the culture exchange programmes with the focus on promoting sports as well, Goel added
“The idea of having the tournament was conceived by Prime Minister Narendra Modi hence this is the first edition of BRICS football being organised in Goa,” Goel said.
“Sports teaches us about failure, joy, disappointment, excitement, winning and losing, maturity team work, humility and selflessness and most importantly imbibes in us the sportsman’s spirit,” he added.
He further said that the BRICS football can be affective in promoting sustainable sports development between the countries. The matches will also help strengthen the ties between the member-states.
“We should encourage such games between member states. The coming of players from five different countries will lead to stronger bonds of friendship and strengthening of our relationship,” he said.
Goel also took the opportunity of congratulating the Olympic and Paralympic medal winners.
BRICS tournament will be played amongst the five countries namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Most of the matches will be played at the Bambolim stadium with two matches every alternate day. The third place match and the final will be played at Nehru stadium, Fatorda on October 15.
I-LEAGUE: Speaking over the issue of top football teams leaving the I-League, Goel expressed concern and said that he would speak to the All India Football Federation, asking them to resolve the problem.
“I will speak to the federation members and ask them to find a resolution to the problem,” Goel said, when asked if he was concerned about the exodus of top-flight teams from the I-League, following the emergence of the Indian Super League.
Others present on the occasion were President of All India Football Association Prafull Patel, CEO of FIFA Kushal Das, former captain of Indian Football team Baichung Bhutia, Seby, Lt Gen. Rajiv Balla, secretary for Sports and Youth Affairs, Goa BR Singh, Executive Director of Sports and Youth Affairs V M Prabhudessai among others.
