The 1 Goa Battalion NCC has booked its place in the prestigious U-15 Subroto Cup after emerging champions in the Karnataka & Goa NCC Directorate qualifiers held in Bengaluru. The Goa contingent sealed the title with an emphatic 5-0 victory over the Bengaluru Group NCC team in the final.
With this triumph, Goa will once again be represented by two teams at the U-15 Subroto Cup—one being the state’s champion school team and the other comprising NCC cadets from across Goa.
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The victorious NCC side is coached by Shri Rames Honnali, Physical Education teacher at Loyola High School, whose guidance played a key role in the team’s outstanding campaign.
The Goa Battalion displayed exceptional form throughout the tournament, topping the round-robin league with a series of convincing wins. The team defeated Mysuru 7-0, Bengaluru 6-0, Mangaluru 10-0, and Bellary 11-0 before registering another commanding performance in the final to clinch the championship.
Congratulating the team on its achievement, Colonel H.S. Dhanoa, Commanding Officer of the 1 Goa Battalion NCC, said Goa’s rich football talent should encourage more youngsters to join the NCC.
“With the football talent in Goa, more and more youth should join NCC because it provides opportunities to showcase not only footballing skills but also talents in various social and cultural activities that help build a strong personality. The passion for football also serves as a force multiplier, promoting nationalism and respect for the Armed Forces. NCC is the first step for many children aspiring to join the Indian Armed Forces,” he said.
Lieutenant Colonel Gregory Gonsalves, a serving Indian Army officer from Goa and former Services football player, also lauded the initiative, highlighting its impact on inspiring young athletes.
“The kind of awareness such an initiative generates about the Indian Armed Forces is phenomenal. I too became an Indian Army officer because of football,” he remarked.
The impressive qualification campaign further reinforces Goa’s reputation as a football powerhouse, while also showcasing the role of the National Cadet Corps in nurturing sporting excellence, discipline, leadership, and national pride among young cadets.
