Dempo Academy an 18-month reality: Shrinivas

TEAM HERALD

sports@herald-goa.com

MAPUSA: Striker Myron Manuel Fernandes of Mapusa and midfielder Aniston Jenslie Fernandes of Betalbatim were the two young Dempo Sports Club players selected for a 3-month elite training camp in Dennmark starting in February, as part of Dempo’s unique youth player development programme in collaboration with FC Midtyjlland.

Addressing a press conference at Dempo House, in Panjim along with the release of the new interactive Dempo Club website and official merchandise, club president Shrinivas V. Dempo highlighted plans for a Dempo academy in Goa within 18 months.

While the audience was serenaded by the new Dempo anthem created by a die-hard Dempo fan Anthony Nunes, the website www.demposportsclub.com was unveiled.

A member from Rubiq solutions who designed and are hosting the website, described the main functions, which included all upcoming fixtures, video highlights of press conferences and a fan zone to bring the community closer to the club.

Dempo disclosed that they are aiming to have minute-by- minute score updates of Dempo games as part of the websites dynamic and informative characteristics.

On merchandise, Dempo acknowledged that there is still a long way to go in terms of earning revenue from the same  in India, but believed now was the right time for the club to branch out in this field as another way of reaching out to the fans. A T-shirt with the Dempo eagle crest was released along with the usual extras such as coffee mugs, key rings and wrist bands, all in the traditional blue-and-white of the club.

Chief Guest Claus Steinlein, head of the Danish academy who specialises in unearthing players, spoke of his elaborate plans for improving Indian football. Claus admitted that before the tie up with Dempo he did not know much about football in India, but after visiting Goa last year he was hugely surprised with the game showing.

Claus stated that football has a long way to go in India due to the popularity of cricket, but felt the future was bright and rather humorously remarked that he can envisage the day when Denmark will play India at the 2022 World Cup, but of course felt Denmark would win.

Claus had one parting message, “Unlike Goa, Denmark is extremely cold, so Myron and Aniston should pack a lot of extra clothing as they get set to embark on their training,” reasoned out Claus.

Myron Fernandes is a former student of St Britto’s High School, Mapusa and has played for Goa United and Benny XI, before joining Dempo’s age-group teams. He has twice travelled to the UK for training, once with Leicester City through the Gary Lineker scholarship and also with the Manchester United soccer schools. In 2008 he visited Portugal touring with the Goa U-15 team.

This is Aniston’s first trip out of the country and he is looking forward to it. He represented St Jude’s High School, Betalbatim and played for Ave Maria Athletic & Walker Club U-14 team, before joining Dempo Juniors.

Assistant coach Mauricio Afonso, who took head coach Armando Colaco’s place as the later had undergone an angioplasty, spoke of the fantastic facilities he got to view first hand on his trip to Denmark last year. “There was specific training for players and there were even individual coaches, something that we would like to bring to Dempo eventually,” said Mauricio.

Dempo mentioned that they are planning to build an academy within 18 months, but felt it was too early at this stage to say where it would be. “We have a couple of places that we own where it could be set up, but Claus preferred a different site that we had visited and we are in the process of seeing if we can acquire the land,” stated Dempo.

Dempo pointed out that they would try to build a roof in the design so as to utilize the ground during the monsoons.

Satyajeet Sadanandan, president of New World Consulting India, the firm which brought Dempo and FC Midtyjlland together, GFA general secretary Alberto Colaco, Executive Committee members Savio Messias, Alirio Lobo and Uday Lingudkar were also present.

The Dempo squad along with manager Custodio Almeida and goalkeeping coach Camilio Gonsalves were also present.

Shrinivas needs to be complimented for his vision on setting up an academy as well for deputing talented footballers to Denmark.

Dempo became the first Goan club to depute youngsters for training abroad under a definite plan and deserve accolades for the same. In the past, it was the GFA who would give exposure to the young prospects, with the age-group team having undergone coaching at Guimaraes and Porto and even played in an international age-group tournament in Lisbon under the MoU with Porto University, which has not been in operation for the past three years now. That apart, the GFA would also select youngsters for the Leicester City coaching with assistance from Keith Vaz, MP.