TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Goa Football Development Council (GFDC) inaugurated its 4th Associate Football Centre (17th centre overall) at Arpora, the place that saw football first in Goa on Wednesday.
The centre under the management of Arpora Sporting Club was inaugurated by GFDC Chairman Dr. Rufino Monteiro in the presence of Guest of Honour Delilah Lobo, Sarpanch of Parra Village Panchayat and wife of Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, GFDC member Stanislaus D’souza, Sarpanch of Arpora Sushma Nagvekar, Parish Priest of Arpora-Nagoa Father Urbano Menezes, President of Arpora Sporting Clube Salim Sheikh, GFA Executive Committee Member Babli Mandrekar and India, Dempo and local hero Samir Naik.
65 boys in the age group of U-12 years from around the vicinity have enrolled at the centre and they will be imparted training by two qualified football coaches. Dr. Rufino Monteiro, speaking on the occasion, said that GFDC is now aligning with South Africa Football Association Development Agency (SAFDA) for the development of football in Goa and are on the anvil of starting two regional academies for 12-15 years which will be a boon for young footballers of Arpora which has produced a lot of football talent in the past, as those with promising talent may get a chance to represent hosts India in the U-17 World Cup in 2017.
