The screams of joy were audible for at least a few kilometres.
The smiles however stayed
plastered on the face for a couple of days. These expressions of joy followed a
match in the Little Gaurs League for the U12 girls’ league, which is the
state’s biggest football league for children organised by the Forca Goa
Foundation.
The league has teams registered in the
North and South under the U6, U8, U10 (mixed gender) and U12 (girls)
categories. Matches are scheduled every Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at
the Sangolda Ground. The Little Gaurs League is a platform to encouraging more
children to play regularly and grow with the game.
The Foundation has put together the only U12 exclusive girls’
league in the state. In addition to school teams, this category has community
teams and teams from Not-For-Profit organisations committed towards gender
equality and education. Eighteen all girls teams have registered across North
(Sangolda), South (Navelim) and Central (Vasco) Goa and over 70 teams in the
mixed category. The League has mobilised over 200 girls to play the sport.
Ishita Godinho, Community Development Manager, Forca Goa
Foundation, said “We have seen support come from various quarters to encourage
the girls to take up the sport. From schools to physical education teachers to
enthusiastic parents, many have come forward to support the initiative. This
category has many first-time female players as they have not had the
opportunity to play competitive football before. Parents too are grateful and
supportive as they see value in their child playing regular sports.”
The Little Gaurs League will run from November to March with
match days every week. Winners of each zone will then be participating in a
final round to decide the state champions of Goa in each age category.
Attempts to speak to the young footballers proved futile with
many on holiday. However, one was able to speak to individuals involved in the
sport. Derrick Pereira, Technical Director, FC Goa, said, “The reason to have
this Little Gaur League is to create more opportunities for young talent. We
are focusing more on grassroots as we feel it is the right age to develop
footballers. We have expanded our reach this year so that more children have
access to football. Today footballing talent has more access to quality
training compared to a decade or two ago. Young players need to have access to
tournaments from a very young age and this Little Gaur League is offering just
that. We are now on the right path. Football training begins not on the pitch
but at home. Parents are the child’s first coaches.”
The caption of FC Goa, Mandar Rao Desai, felt it was important
to start young. The younger one started the better one developed. Juliana
Gurjao e Colaco, former women’s football player, said, “The league is a great
opportunity for children to grow and develop not just as footballers but as
disciplined individuals. I’m delighted about the league, especially created for
girls too.”
Coaches in the Goan education system have also appreciated the
efforts. Perpetual Fernandes, coach of Team Fatima Convent-Girls Under 12 said
she was very happy with the initiative done by Forca Goa Foundation. As a
Physical Education Teacher, she looked forward to such leagues. She said, “It’s
nice that young girls are getting a chance to show their talent and to train more.
When they start young, they’ll develop faster and gain experience, which will
help them grow as players”
Perhaps
in the not too distant future, an Indian football superstar will emerge from
the fields of Goa. Not only a guy, as many would imagine but a young girl that
who capture the hearts and imagination of the country.
