PANJIM: Sixty-six higher secondary schools will battle for honours in the first ever schools football league organized by the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs (DSYA) in association with the Goa Football Association and supported by the Goa Football Development Council (GFDC).
The historic league will kick-off on September 22 and culminate on November 19.
More than 60 boys and over 20 girls under-19 teams have confirmed their participation. The boys section has been divided into 15 groups while the girls have been divided into five groups.
The top team of each group (boys and girls) will qualify for the knock-out stage, which will get underway from November 11.
An exception is made for Group J and O of the boys wherein the best second placed team will qualify in the South Zone knock-out as these groups consist of five teams.
The third place match of the boys will be held on November 18, at 10 a.m. in the morning while the finals will be held at 4 p.m. the same day at PNJ stadium, Fatorda.
The girls final will be played on November 19, at 4 p.m. while the runners-up will be held in the morning. The matches will be held at Tilak Maidan, Vasco.
The league was unveiled by GFDC Chairman Dr. Rufino Monteiro in the presence of GFA President and GFDC Member Secretary Elvis Gomes, Deputy Director of Sports Juliana Colaco, GFDC Technical Director Katz Naidoo and Deputy Editor Kurt Bento of The Goan.
“I am happy that the league is starting. For a long time it has been noticed that the DYSA tournament was being held without a purpose. It was time the league format was introduced. This age bracket is on the threshold of making it to the professional clubs. The league will provide a platform for the pro clubs to spot talent. Next year, we hope to associate with DYSA in younger age groups,” GFA President Elvis Gomes said, thanking DSYA Director Y B Tawde and Deputy Director Juliana Gujrao for taking up the idea in earnest and working with the people at GFDC and GFA in putting the league in place.
“This is a historic occasion in Goan football. This would not have happened without the inspiration of GFDC member secretary and GFA President Elvis Gomes and DSYA Deputy Director Juliana Gujrao Colaco. By starting the league, the dreams of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar of total football development are being harnessed into a reality. This together with GFDC’s grass-root development and pre-academies and the first ever pre-primary kids football coaching instituted last week are harbingers of the good times for Goan football. This is the first time that the DSYA, the GFDC and GFA are working on one platform , all for the upliftment of Goan football,” stated GFDC Chairman Dr. Rufino Monteiro.
Deputy Director Kurt Bento thanked the DSYA, GFDC and GFA for having given The Goan an opportunity to join this football festival.
“We always wanted to help support football at the grass root levels and jumped on the opportunity when we came to know that the DSYA,GFDC and GFA were coming together to start this league,” he said.
Juliana Colaco, while thanking GFDC and GFA, expressed her happiness that this which was long overdue to happen has at last been realised.
