32 schools to participate in Celtic FC training programme
TEAM HERALD
sports@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The prestigious Goa-leg of third Mahindra Youth Football Challenge (MYFC), India’s largest under-14 school football tournament-cum-talent hunt , will kick off on Monday (January 28) in Goa, with 32 schools including holders St Britto’s, Mapusa, taking part.
The intra-city leg in Goa will be conducted by GFA with Procam International, India’s leading sports creator being the promoters.
Lavinio Rebello, GFA vice-president hailed the Mahindra programme as it is aimed at developing young talent by the famous Celtic Football Club. “The GFA, which has its own Australian grassroots programme, is proud to be associated with the tournament which will throw up Goa’s champion school for the third year. We congratulate Mahindra and Procam for being our precious partners in our youth development programme, which is also GFA’s commitment to promote football at grassroots,” stated Lavinio, chairman of GFA’s youth development committee at the press briefing here, Friday.
“I wish we had such splendid opportunities in our days. Now that these are there, the boys must grab them with both hands as these are golden opportunities which will help our youngsters to make a big mark in football, which is GFA’s vision,” declared former Olympian Fortunato Franco, reminiscing his old, golden days.
Fortunato hailed GFA, Mahindra and Procam for providing such a splendid opportunity for development of talent and hoped that at least one Goan boy will make it for training with Celtic, the Scottish football giants, since in all three boys will be selected after the inter-city tournament to be held in Bangalore in April.
Raul Rodrigues, Procam’s senior manager (relations), highlighted that the project involved four reputed organizations – Mahindra, Celtic, GFA and Procam – in Goa and that its primary objective was to provide the young footballers a chance of their lifetime to experience a professional outlook which would help them to make it big in the future.
Raul disclosed that the Goa winners will get Rs 30,000, the runners-up Rs 20,000, the third placed Rs 15,000. The teams that reach the quarter-finals will be provided with kit. The overall winners will get Rs 50,000 with the runners-up entitled for Rs 30,000 besides trophies and several other individual prizes.
Before the inter-city challenge, a panel of coaches from Celtic FC will select 24 players from the seven cities for a intensive 4-day clinic and finally, three players will be picked up to travel to Scotland for further intensive training. “This year, we have three players from Kolkata, Kochi and Delhi to go to Celtic while last year we had two from Kolkata and one from Bangalore. I hope that at least one Goan boy will make it now,” said Mumbai-based Raul of Goan origin.
The intra-city legs of Bangalore, Delhi, Kolkata, Kerala and Mumbai have already concluded and the Goa leg will be from January 28 to February 9 or 10 at Quepem, Quitula, Duler (semis and finals).
The teams: Group A – Fr Agnel Multipurpose Verna, Pope John Quepem, St Joseph’s Calangute, Chubby Cheeks Porvorim, Infant Jesus Colva, Mae doe Pobres Nuvem, St Britto’s, Mapusa, St Anthony Mapusa, Bethany Convent Areal, OL Mother of Poor Tilamol, Immaculate Heart Goa Velha, Auxilium Taleigao, Rosary Navelim, OL Snows Raia, OL Grace Bicholim, Don Bosco Panjim.
Group B – St Andrew’s Vasco, Marina English Verna, St Anne’s Tivim, Sacred Heart Anjuna, Guardian Angel Curchorem, Immaculate Conception Paroda, St Andrew’s Goa Velha, St Xavier’s Moira, St Joseph’s Chandor, Regina Mundi Chicalim, Lourdes Convent Saligao, Saraswat Vidyalaya Mapusa, OLPS Cortalim, Fr Agnel Pilar, Smt S Bandodkar Carambolim.
The quarter-finals will be from February 1 with semi-finals from February 5.
India’s FM Station 92.7 Big FM will be the official radio partner.
