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MAPUSA: Sesa Football Academy Goalkeeper Ashika Gadekar put up a brilliant performance at the recently concluded Goa Football Association-Vedanta Women’s Football League.
Goalkeeping task looks easy, if a goalkeeper brings numerous saves but commits a silly error and concedes a goal, all his/her heroics are forgotten if the team loses.
Twenty-three-old Ashika, hailing from Anjuna, holds Bachelor’s Degree in Arts from St Xavier’s College,
Mapusa.
For Ashika, football has been an integral part of her life, as she had the privilege of representing the National team in the U-14, U-15, U-18 and the Senior National team.
At the international level, she has represented India in the U-14 and U-15 categories in Nepal and Sri Lanka during the 2015-16 season.
Throughout her football career, she has played for various prestigious clubs, including Sesa Football Academy (two years), Tuem Football Club, Churchill Brothers FC, Kemp Football Club, Bidesh XI Sports Club, Panjim Footballers and Sporting Club de Goa.
Ashika has also played in the Indian Women’s League (IWL) representing Panjim Footballers, Bidesh XI Sports Club, Churchill Brothers FC and Tuem Football Club (twice).
She also ventured into coaching, withthree years of experience. As the head coach of Peddem Bomm SC, she led the team to victory in the Goa Football Association Division III League, and is currently coaching at Revora.
Ashika’s efforts have been recognised with two Golden Glove Awards – the first at GFA-Vedanta’s Women’s League in 2017 and the second in 2025. Additionally, she has the honour of representing Goa at the 35th National Games.
Speaking to O Herald O, her Head Coach Severino D’Souza, who has been coaching Sesa FA Women’s team for the last two seasons had nothing but praises for Ashika.
“Ashika has always been punctual at practices or matches, guiding her team from the back. As senior member in the team, she encourages her team to give in the best,” Severino stated.
“In the current 8th GFA-Vedanta Women’s Football League, where Sesa FA were the champions, Ashika maintained six clean sheets and was instrumental in ensuring her team stay unbeaten in the entire tournament where eventually she was rewarded the best goalkeeper of the tournament,” the coach added.
Ashika said, “All this would have not been possible without the guidance and support from my mentor Sandeep Sir, whose motivation has been a driving force in my journey. I am truly grateful for his presence in my life.”
