22 Oct 2021  |   04:57am IST

It’s all about love for the game

A film about football in the state has been produced featuring young and experienced footballers who talk about their experiences and more importantly about the game played by young girls and how it is slowly but steadily improving
It’s all about love for the game

Ajit John

Football is in the blood of

Goans. It is discussed with great passion by everyone and anyone. The game has featured in books, in plays and in movies. Now yet another feature film will showcase the love for the game in the state. The film called Goal Goa talks about the time when football pitches were not filled with players kicking the ball around during the pandemic. Vaccination drives were taking place in football pitches where young people once played football. Interestingly the film also talks about how football came to Goa and how women players from the state compete nationally.

The film features the first ‘woman’ coach for the women’s national team, women national team players and girl athletes who are excelling in grassroots football played on the beach. Lisa Heydlauff Director of the film who was based in Mumbai for several years but moved to Goa after Juhu beach was closed which meant she could not take her dogs out for a walk. Lisa said British Telecom funded her company called Going to school. They asked her if she could do something in the second wave and she said no. However a discussion took place about football and how everyone should get out and play football together. She decided to talk to young footballers both boys and girls, senior and retired players. Talk about their experience and discuss how to make the game better for girls and boys. Lisa said it was a shock to learn that there was only one football tournament for girls. She said a start had to be made at the panchayat level. It was important to invest in the game. Girls playing the game learn new skills. The film was done over forty days driving around the state talking to people who had never talked about their love for the game before. People talked about how the game came to the state and how one could do it different after Covid.

One of the people in the feature is Yolanda de Souza, one time national footballer. She said she was interviewed about her experiences as a footballer. She said “We had a very good women’s football team in the 70s and the 80’s. We had a certain standing and we were no 2 in Asia. We used to compete with other countries. But our transition was poor. Let me give you an example. We drew with West Germany. We did well in the invitation world cup. This was in 1981 in Tapei. Germany took the step and they moved with the men. Our women’s federation was not recognized and this break destroyed the game. Now however, interest is growing again.” The national team is now in Sweden and has been on tour across various countries. She said Lisa had done a very good job and asked a lot of questions.

For young footballer Sania Pednekar who is based in Siolim said she and her friends were playing and preparing for a tournament. A friend informed her about the film and they were taken to the beach. She said “Lisa spoke to me and said I would be the main character. I had to be myself a female player and the experience was very good”. A player in mid field she wants to play at a professional level. A fan of Millie Bright and Samantha Kerr of Chelsea FC and Federico Chiesa of Juventus, she hopes to make her mark. She spent two days at the shoot and has to still do the voiceovers. Another very seasoned ex-footballer, Maymol Rocky said she had a conversation about her journey in football. She said “It was raining and we had a chat. Women’s football is picking up in the country as well as in the state. I was the coach of the national team and stepped down for a while. The national team is winning again and we are slowly going back to the good times of the 80’s.”

The film also features Savio Medeira, Current Technical Director (Interim), India National Football Team, Brahmanand Sankhwalkar, Former Captain, Indian Football team (1983-1986) and Uvena Fernandes, International Footballer, Air Force Officer, FIFA Referee to name a few. The feature film Goal Goa will air on DD National on October 31st, 2021.

IDhar UDHAR

Idhar Udhar