TEAM HERALD
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MAPUSA: “Five Goa’s under-12 budding footballers have been selected for the nine- member FCBEscola India team which will participate in the FCBEscola international tournament to be held in Barcelona from March 25- 28,” announced Sonia Pillai, marketing and partnerships head, Conscient Football at the GFDC headquarters in Panjim, Thursday.
Flan Gomes (Fr Agnel HS, Verna), Samward Pereira (Loyola HS, Margao), Ayan Lall (Don Bosco HS, Calangute), Bevan Monteiro and Shanon Viegas (Don Bosco HS, Panjim) are the five Goans who have been selected for their remarkable skills and potential with the GFDC providing support in the pre-selection process, stated Sonia at the press conference at GFDC headquarters in Panjim today.
Two selection camps were held in Margao and Panjim under the supervision of coaches Marcus Pacheco and Savio Medeira.
After their return from Barcelona, the nine footballers will undergo a one week coaching camp at Tilak Maidan, Vasco from April 24 to 28 and will be conducted by Jordi Arasa, coordinator, FCBEScola Delhi NCR. He has been the FCB coach for six years in Barcelona, disclosed Dr Rufino Monteiro, GFDC chairman. The camp will be part of the general camp in which U-8, U-10, U-12, U-14 and U-17 boys and girls will participate.
The programme has been scientifically developed for children in the age groups 6-17 with participants been trained in the Barca way of playing football. Apart from providing training in football, they are taught values like tolerance, respect, solidarity, friendship, community spirit and integration.
“The basic idea is to create footballers of tomorrow and the training module infuses on-field and off-field sessions to create not only better understanding about the game but also how to be the best player,” said Elvis Gomes, GFDC’s executive secretary.
The camp is part of the forthcoming FCBescola academy to be set up in Delhi this year with the school being the youth development academy of FC Barcelona to nurture Indian talents.
The international tournament which is an annual affair will be held next to Camp Nou where famous players like Messi, Xavi started their careers. Last year, 53 teams of various age groups representing nine countries took part.
Conscient Football recently entered into a three year MOU with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) establishing a clear pathway for youth aspiring to represent India nationally while also providing AIFF with access to Conscient’s quality football infrastructure for training purposes.
Meanwhile, the GFDC will launch their first training center for girls at Rosary ground, Navelim on Friday at 4 p.m. This will be GFDC’s fourth youth development centre.
Savio Messias, GFDC member was also present at the press briefing.
