PANJIM: The Goa Football Association has set the wheels of women’s football in motion with the launch of the Goa Women’s Football festival which kicks off on Wednesday at the Duler Stadium, Mapusa. The festival is being promoted by Zest Concepts and supported by Viva North.
“It’s time we take Women’s football to a competitive level so that our talented players are offered the necessary exposure. It is therefore that we are organizing the Goa Women’s Football festival from tomorrow that will feature four teams,” said GFA’s chairperson of the Women’s Sub-Committee, Juliana Gurjao Colaco.
The teams participating are team Tibet, Spectrum FA from Gujarat, Viva North from Candolim and Goa XI. Maria Rebello FIFA Asst Referee, Asia, will head the refereeing panel for the festival.
GFA President Elvis Gomes said that it was their endeavour to promote Women's football in the State and accord it the respect it deserves.
“We hosted the U-18 National Football Championship for girls last year and that set the ball rolling. We have brainstormed on the best way to revive Women's football and we are making a small start with the Women's Football Festival. This tournament will see all the major girls teams in the country participating in the future editions. We will also be hosting the FIFA Refresher Coaching Courses for Women in July and August. We will have the Senior Women's State Football League that will follow later.”
Gomes and Colaco have appealed to the fans to support the event.