TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The Goa Football Development Council inaugurated its 11th Football Development Centre in Sankhali, recently.
With this centre, the GFDC has completed a football team of centres with the first being opened at Valpoi.
The centre witnessed a huge turnout with over 200 children enrolling for the training programme.
Speaking on the occasion, GFDC Member Secretary Elvis Gomes mentioned that the sport being famous in Bardez and Salcete talukas, the development council’s approach to target remote areas proved successful which could be seen through a huge turn out for the opening.
He pointed out that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar declared football as Goa’s official sport and it would be only befitting when one day the India team would consists of Goans donning the Indian tricolour.
Chief Guest Dr Pramod Sawant congratulated GFDC for its great efforts and informed the children to avail the facilities that GFDC and the government are providing.
He also urged parents to play an important role in encouraging their children to take to football.
He further added that the government college ground will be taken up for development by SAG and will be utilized by locals at large.
The inauguration match ended with an exhibition match between the trainees from GFDC Valpoi centre.
Earlier, Praveen Blaggan welcomed while Sushant Pokle from Eagles Sports Club proposed the vote of thanks.
Among those present were GFDC members Stanislaus D’Souza, Shantaram Naik and Sheikh Suleman Karol, councillors of Sankhalim Bhupendra Karpe and Devanand Boriekar and Dataram Chimulkar.
