For children, playing a sport is important, not just because of the physical or social benefits, but because of the fun they have. The grassroots football plays an important role in trying to keep the sporting spark alive in children. At the festival, the children indulged in juggling, dribbling and small-sided games, in the celebratory atmosphere.
Lauded by the All India Football Federation and Asian Football Confederation for their efforts, the Salgaocar FC have continued to set the benchmark in grassroots and youth development initiatives by organizing their annual Community Outreach Programme for the third consecutive year.
Before the start of the programme, Salgaocar FC had organized football camps at various schools in the vicinity along with their senior coaches and star footballers. This year has seen enrollment rise to over 650 children from in and around Vasco, where Salgaocar FC is headquartered.
The programme began in the month of October 2015 and is conducted every Sunday where the basics of “The Beautiful Game” are imparted to these budding footballers using techniques that are both fun and engrossing. This is done to enable the youngsters play competitive football.
At Salgaocar FC, youth development and involvement of the local community has always been intrinsic to the club’s philosophy. This year, the programme comprised 20 sessions from October to March which saw girls and boys between the ages of 6-11 brave the hot sun to ensure they never miss out on a single football-centric Sunday.
Coaching is of the highest standard as the children have a chance to train under the club’s senior coaches. Players from the senior and U-19 teams also coach in rotation, so that the young ones are able to interact with their heroes.
The children from the programme have also had the opportunity to act as escorts for the club’s home I-League matches held at Tilak Maidan, Vasco, over the course of the season.
