National Sports Day honours the legacy of late Major (Retd) Dhyan Chand, the three-time Olympic gold medallist and hockey maestro. This year’s theme furthers the idea of “Sport to Promote Peaceful Societies” and is an occasion to recognise the efforts of our tireless sportspersons and to commit to their progress through holistic support.
Sesa Goa has extended support to sport for over seven decades across its business locations. In the period between 1954 and 1991-92 it promoted football through the Sesa Sports Club and then in 1999 established the Sesa Football Academy at the Sanquelim Reclaimed Mines (SRM).
The SFA has, in its 26 years of inception, nurtured the footballing aspirations of over 8,000 youth through a combination of its academy structure, football camps, professional football team, and the tournaments that it conducts.
Its senior men’s team finished runners up in the Goa Pro League in 2023-24 and went on to play in the prestigious I-League3.12 players overall from SFA have represented India at the International level, with Denzil Franco, Adil Khan, Pratesh Shirodhkar, Glan Martins being some of the prominent names.
The SFA has a unique model where it does not have the typical revenue model of a professional club and is a CSR initiative, which has continued and expanded unabated despite severe business challenges during the period of mining ban. It aims to nurture the aspirations of rural youth &harnesses their talent to provide them pathways for success through the medium of sports.
The SFA provides the best of facilities as well as coaching support & its efforts have been recognised with the according of the elite 3-star All India Football Federation (AIFF) Accreditation, being one among the 15 such academies nation-wide & the only Goan entity on the list.
Keeping in tune with the times, the SFA has already remodelled itself to tap the latent talent in the women’s segment. It has been supporting the premier women’s football league in Goa financially since 2017 and the tournament – Vedanta Women’s League (VWL) - has now emerged as a nursery for the women’s game.
Through its eight seasons, the League has cumulatively shaped the careers of 1400+ women footballers, with Karishma Shirvoikar and Michel Castanha having represented India at various international tournaments. SFA Senior Women’s Team won the VWL in 2025 and has become the only Goan team to feature in the IWL2, finishing a creditable 3rd amongst 15 elite teams. Adding yet another feather, Pearl Fernandes from SFA is now representing India at the U-17 SAFF Women’s Championships.
Navin Jaju, CEO, Sesa Goa, Vedanta Limited reflecting on the company’s role in promoting sports said, “At Vedanta Sesa Goa, we believe sport is a catalyst for transformation. Through the Sesa Football Academy (SFA), we’re nurturing grassroots talent-creating pathways for youth from rural areas to represent India and build secure futures. The SFA Senior Women’s Team’s recent IWL2 performance & the success of players like Pearl Fernandes highlights our commitment to professional training and inclusive growth.”
SFA has also been focussing on nurturing football through its initiatives on organising various tournaments. The U-15 Youth Cup for boys and the Sesa Vedanta U-15 Tournaments for girls plays a vital role in the shaping of young Gona footballers. The Vedanta Football Championship is another much anticipated event for the rural clubs and enthusiasts, which provides them a platform to showcase their skill.
Congratulating SFA, Goa Football Association President Caitano Fernandes said, “I extend my best wishes to SFA on the occasion of the National Sports Day. Sesa Goa has supported hundreds of footballers from Goa and has contributed tremendously to state level as well as Indian football.Its deeply committed backing of the Vedanta Women's League has ensured that Goa Women's football has developed by leaps and bounds and is making notable strides at the National level.”
In addition, Vedanta Sesa Goa has also provided support to other aspiring sportspersons such as champion para athlete Sakshi Kale, and has extended financial and logistics support to the young Goan icon who has recently won the silver medal at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix (WPAGP) 2025 at Delhi and also two bronze medals at the Tata India Open Para Athletics Championships.
Sesa Goa has been instrumental in driving the Vedanta Ultimate Badminton League (VUBL), which has emerged as a competitive platform for young talent in Goa. Alongside cricket tournaments across its business locations, these initiatives ensure that promising athletes across disciplines are given equal opportunities to train, compete, and shine.