PANJIM: A graduation ceremony for the 27 boys from the GFDC Residential Academy was organised at the SAG ground at Bambolim recently. Few boys have already signed for Dempo SC, FC Goa, Salgaocar FC and Reliance Foundation Young Champs Academy in Mumbai.
GFDC Member Secretary, Aleixo Da Costa expressed pleasure over the success and achievement of the boys from the academy.
“This is an important milestone as we are seven years old. The residential academy training program has been very successful and we have been able to develop young football players in the state. The council is proud of the achievement of the first out going batch. We will be starting with a new batch at the residential academy. Over 17 boys have been scouted from the various centres in Goa and we need few more. Few from our outgoing batch have made it to the National team and others in professional clubs,” he said.
GFDC Technical In-charge, Derryl D’Souza stated that the boys have promising achievements because of all the patience in nurturing the talent.
“For the last six years the talent that was being nurtured at the various grassroots centres was later inducted in the residential academy. Besides my efforts and contribution as their Head Coach due credit has to be also given to our coaches at the various centres as they have played a significant role. They have shaped these trainees with the basic fundamentals of the game. Four boys from the GFDC Academy are in the AIFF U-16 national team and represented India,” said Derryl.
