Team Herald
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FATORDA: The Goan football received a major boost as Goa Football Development Council’s Residential Football Academy, Margao was inaugurated by Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in the presence of Minister for Sports Ramesh Tawadkar, Chairman GDFC Dr Rufino Monteiro, Member Secretary Alexio FF da Costa and Vice Chairman Anthonio Botheleo, at a glittering function, at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, recently.
30 young boys in the age group of 12-13 years from 14 grassroots football development centres of GFDC have been selected to hone their football skills, at the Margao facility.
Speaking on the occasion Parrikar stated, “As chief minister I gave football the status of the State sport. Goa is the only State to declare it. The talent was there but they were not getting the opportunity. The talented sportspersons of the State will have the benefit of the Academy.”
“Football matters to me the most. One must not take into account the political inclination, if any performance for the stake is concerned. I think it will be the footballers who will continue to claim the coveted place,” commented the defence minister disclosing that the Central government has set aside grants of over Rs 6 crore for the upgradation of Nehru Stadium for the upcoming Under-17 FIFA World Cup.
Meanwhile, Tawadkar stated that Goa will improve sports infrastructure over the next five years.
“We have already seen how the Lusofonia Games brought up stadiums and the upcoming AFC U-16 Cup, FIFA U-17 World Cup and National Games will add to it,” he informed.
He said that Goa is witnessing improvement on the football front and GFDC is helping the budding footballers to hone their skills.
According to Dr Rufino, the academy is mainly dedicated to the youngsters from villages who cannot afford training at private academies. The academy mainly caters to children from the villages.
“Many are not able to afford to get into a private academy. We are seeing our efforts turn into results. There are still teething problems because it is still a four-year-old baby. Our aim is to see that Goa gets its pride of place back in Indian football,” said Dr Rufino.
Aleixo mentioned, “Four years ago, two people came together. Parrikar and Rufino, when they met, the game of football won. The council decided that it needed to grow from the centres. And so we started the pre-academies and reached the residential academy.
Dr Rufino felicitated Parrikar with shawl, coconut and replica of football.
Later, Parrikar distributed certificates to the 30 trainees selected.
The youngsters who are part of the academy will get their schooling from the Holy Spirit Institute and will stay at the St John Paul II Complex. Former India and Salgaocar stopper back Roberto Fernandes has been appointed as the chief coach while former Salgaoncar FC defender Agnelo Colaco and former Sesa Goa goalkeeper Diogo Diniz will be the assistant coach and goalkeeping coach respectively.
