TEAM HERALD
sports@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: In its sustained bid to significantly boost the profile of the game, both in Goa and the country and also to make strides internationally, the Goa Football Development Council initiative GIFT (Goa International Football Table) is set to host its second summit on March 14, 15, 16 at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, Goa University, Taleigao Plateau.
The overall theme will be ‘Football Beyond The Pitch’. The three-day event will witness a star-studded line-up of national and international big names who will share their invaluable insights into various aspects including ‘The Year That Was, Talent Scouting, Brand Building and Community Development’.
The speakers for the opening session on The Year That Was include Dr. Rufino Monteiro, chairman of GDFC (key-note speech), members of the panel include Shrinivas Dempo – President, Goa Football Association, Kushal Das – General Secretary, AIFF, Ishmeet Singh – Vodafone -Business head Maharastra and Goa who will discuss various aspects of the game. Member Secretary Elvis Gomes will focus on GDFC s special initiatives. The key-note address on the opening day will be delivered by former FIFA deputy Secretary General Jerome Champagne.
The ‘Technical Master Plan for Youth Football Development in Goa’ prepared under the leadership of Dr. Robin Petersen – CEO, South African Football Development Agency (SAFDA) will be released along with the Goa youth football development re-search report by Neilsen’s on the Evaluation of the Football Ecosystem in Goa.
The awards programme on the opening day will witness the felicitation of Goa’s first international footballer Visitacao Lobo, former India women’s team captain Yolanda D’Souza, coaches late Joao Melo and Levino Dias, administrator Albert Colaco and the late international referee FX D’Souza besides promising young stars.
The second day of the convention will kick off with a keynote address by South African legend Mark Fish who played in the 1998 World Cup and for numerous English clubs. Another keynote address will be delivered by Sporting Clube de Goa chief coach Oscar Bruzon, who will dwell on the importance of honing local talent to produce world-class players.
The game depends a lot on ‘Talent Scouting’ and this aspect of the game will be discussed in a keynote address by Mike Steptoe – Director of the African Soccer Development School which will be followed by a debate by panellists.
The third and concluding day of the convention will feature a parade of legends.
This football parade will kick-off from the GFDC office at Miles High, Patto on Sunday at 9.00 am and wind its way through GFDC centres of north Goa, viz Moira, Aldona, Pernem, Mayem, Sankhelim and Valpoi.
