Four young girls from Goa in the big apple setting out to represent their state and their country in
the Global Goals world Cup. Makes for a very interesting story. Oh yes it does
and more importantly they created a mark that made them standout with their
performance in a field comprising players far more experienced and skilled.
The team consisted of Sneha Fernandes,
Simone Lalwani, Avia Vas, Velanie Fernandes, Yadnya Parwar and Joyvi Fernandes
and was managed by Ishita Godinho. They played four games and lost one game in
footballing terms, but they drew all the games taking other parameters into
account. Each match was played over six minutes and the score was just one
aspect that was taken into consideration. Other factors like original style
like how the team upcycle, recycle materials. Best action ie the team with the
loudest advocacy for their goals would win a point and finally supporting
crowd. Teams that engaged the crowd and have them assist in raising their
unique voice for the goal they were playing for.
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For the four players it was an interesting
experience. For three of them it was the first trip out of the country. The
team’s excellent performance won them the award for ‘Best action towards
Sustainable Development Goals.’ For the girls who play for the women s team of
FC Goa and represented team Forca Goa Foundation it was an experience that
opened their eyes to what was happening out in the big wide world. There were
teams Simone Lalwani said who were campaigning for the oceans. Others against
plastic. The fight she was going on all over the world. The Forca Goa
Foundation advocates for three of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals – Goal
3: good health and well-being, Goal 5: gender equality, and Goal 12:
responsible consumption and production. The foundation team were crowned
winners of the India leg of the tournament in Mumbai earlier this year, and got
the opportunity to represent the country in the global finals.In attendance
were noted actor and UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Nikola Coster-Waldau, Film
Producer along with Kelly Nascimento, daughter of the legendary footballer Pele
and a number of delegates from the United Nations.
Ishita Godinho, Community Development Manager at Forca Goa
Foundation said “The highlight was interacting with and learning about other
sports for development organisations. From using sport to rehabilitate refugees
to using it to save our oceans. The causes for which sports unites people is
unimaginable. It felt amazing to be heard at a global platform, everyone
appreciated the work of the foundation. It was inspiring to see women so
passionate and determined to score goals, not just on but off the pitch as
well”.Sneha Fernandes, a player on the squad said, “It was indeed an amazing
experience being in New York as it was my first-time outside India. I was very
excited about the finals as it was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me. As
the event day arrived, we were all set to give in our best because that was the
main motive behind going there. We did pretty well and gained a lot of
experience playing with other countries.”
The
team members all very young but seem very determined and clearheaded with
regards their goals for the future. They were all clear that this experience
had taught them so much. Plans vary from going further in makeup design, to
bagging a spot on the national team but they all feel that they will
incorporate their learnings in their lives. The way to start they felt was to
start with oneself and take small steps and inform others of the changes that
were needed to battle problems like global warming and excessive use of plastic
which was clogging rivers and lakes. The Global Goals World Cup is the first
women’s activist football tournament that leverages the power of football as a
sport to drive awareness around the UN Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs), and
empowers young girls and women around the world to take action. The competition
is not just about scoring goals in the game but also about how the SDGs are
being actioned by the teams and their partners – reflecting the many ways we
all can play for a better world.
