NAVELIM: Eighteen-year-old lad Aldrich Coelho from Nagmodem, Navelim, who is donning the colours of Churchill Brothers SC as a striker, aims for the stars and wants to emulate football hero Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo in his professional career.
Earlier, a product of Perpetual Convent High School, Navelim, played for under-12 and 14 football teams, performed well in the leagues and was liked by his teachers too.
“Winning of the Manchester Cup at Pune in 2011 with U-15 Salgaocar FC team and then moving to Thailand to play more matches of the same tournament helped gain rich experience and knowledge by observing other players, which was the plus point of this tour,” disclosed Aldrich.
He played in the inter-village tournaments for Navelim Sporting Club, UCT Navelim and Navelim Villagers Union teams for the last 10 years.
Aldrich says he is grateful to the coaches, who guided and instructed him, namely Augustine of Salgaocar FC, Mickey Rebello and present mentor Alfred of Churchill Brothers SC.
His father Santa Rita Coelho and uncle Lenny Coelho, who donned the colours of Salcette Football Club, also inspired and guided him. From the age of nine, his father used to take him to inter-village football tournaments. Aldrich had the first foot on the ball in the ninth year. As time and years passed by, he starting watching world class matches on TV and football games related VCDs to gain more knowledge.
Aldrich further says he wants to complete his education up to Std XII and learn some more sports details through computers in order to be on the track of modern cyber age and look at future for brighter prospectus with additional knowledge.
His mother too is the pillar, who stands behind him, every time for support while his brother Alisthon is playing for Salgaocar FC U-18 team.
Aldrich helps his parents in the house chorus and father’s business too.
On Indian Super League, Aldrich mentioned that the tournament has given wonderful platform for young talented Indian players. I too learnt a lot from the foreign players after watching their matches, their moves, one touch, quick and mostly not holding the ball single-handedly.”
In the ISL tournament, he likes all the teams but his heart is with FC Goa and Chennaiyin FC is the best team. For Goan outfit, Romeo Fernandes and Mandar Rao Dessai have added the rainbow colours. And also like strikers Mendoza and Rafael Coelho, who are the best on the playfield.
Regarding I-League, he too expressed happiness, which is going on for longer period but was disappointed on the attendance of spectators, who come to watch the matches.
“The village inter-ward and inter-village football tournaments are gaining momentum and importance which are the nurseries for the promotion of Goan football besides Goa Football Development Council centres. The Goa Football Association, local organizers, clubs and associations promoting football are also the torchbearers in today’s football arena,” he disclosed.
Let football stay here with more youngsters taking up as a profession, parallel with educational background, he concluded.
