Team Herald
PANJIM: Minister for Revenue Rohan Khaunte and Union Minister for AYUSH-Independent charge (IC) Shripad Naik unveiled the trophies and game mascot respectively for the OORJA CAPF’s Youth U-19 Football Talent Hunt Tournament for boys and girls under the aegis of All India Police Sports Control Board, at Kala Academy, Panjim, on Friday.
Chief guest and Minister for Revenue Rohan Khaunte congratulated the CAPFs and CISF for their initiative.
“Sports teach us discipline, ethics, team work and a lot about life. Football runs in the blood of every Goan. Participation is important, not winning or losing. Talent cannot be bought, it is born and there will be new starts that will be born from this tournament.” he said.
The girls’ team trophy is instituted in the name of Yolanda D’Souza, eminent sports personality in Goa.
The guests also unveiled the sports kit and football, followed by an introduction of team captains from various schools and clubs. The program ended with felicitation of the guests.
IG CISF Satish Khandare informed that OORJA CAPFs Youth U-19 Football Talent Hunt Tournament 2017 is an opportunity to draw mass attention towards sports. “Prime Minister has stated that the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in October 2017 must be a catalyst for change. This can be done by creating a mass moment around it. The Central Armed forces has accepted this call of Prime Minister and has decided to organise the tournament,” he said.
Brand Ambassador for the tournament Bruno Coutinho in his address mentioned that sports has the ability to bring people together, to create communication and to foster relationship that can be last lifetime and extended his best wishes to the teams.
On the occasion, Shripad Naik said that Government will support sports in all the forms. “Football is admired all over the country of and OORJA is a major step in the world of sports,” he said.
Approximately 1200 matches will be played in all three phases of this tournament involving close to 12,500 young players, both boys and girls from schools and clubs. The matches in Goa will be played at Nagoa and Navelim football ground whereas the inaugural and final match will be played at Bambolim football ground on May 1 and May 10 respectively.
The winning team will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 50,000, runners-up will get Rs 30,000/- and hard life team will be awarded Rs 20,000.
The Second phase of the tournament will be held from June 8- 25in Gujrat in which the teams from States and United Territories will participate. The third phase will be July 8- 25.
The program was attended by staff of CAPF, CISF, football team captains of various school, clubs and football enthusiasts.
Chairman of Marmugoa Port Trust I Jeya Kumar, Goa Football Development Corporation (GFDC) Chairman Dr Rufino Monteiro, Sr Commandant CISG Himanshu Pandey and eminent sportswomen from Goa Yolanda D’souza were present on the occasion.
