PANJIM: Some years back Sesa Football Academy had everything going for them, they had invested heavily in a youth development set up with state-of-the-art training facilities to be run by top professionals. Their youth teams were doing exceedingly well in all age group tournaments tearing apart the biggies of Indian football. Their pro teams were battling it out in the Goa Professional League.
But an academy with a rich legacy has suddenly fallen apart due to severe financial crisis. The two-year mining ban finally seems to have taken its toll on the official sport of Goa. Mining ban, drop in iron ore prices and high taxes could bring down the curtains on one of India’s famous football academy.
Sesa Football Academy can proudly boast of producing poster boys of Indian football like Denzil Franco, Rowilson Rodrigues, Adil Khan, Godwin Franco and Gabriel Fernandes etc. All these players graduated from the prestigious SFA after successfully completing their four-year training programme.
Lamenting on the closure, Goa Football Association President Elvis Gomes informed, “It is unfortunate that SFA is being closed down. Sesa has a long history of football in State and with the opening of the academy, they had taken the right step in the development of youth talent and a large number of Goan football players could make their mark. It will definitely be a big loss to football in the State.”
However, Gomes sounded optimistic about the mining future in Goa as the mining ban has been lifted by the State government as well as the Centre, clearing way for mining resumption.
“If it is due to financial crunch, due to ban on mining, I do not subscribe to that. Ban is likely to be lifted and as such they should reconsider their decision and give back what they have taken from Goa over the years,” added Gomes.
According to a source in the SFA, the two-and-half year mining ban coupled with dwindling global mineral ore prices, high taxation, capping on production has forced the company to take such indecision to reduce the costs.
Giving his views on the same, Goa Football Development Council Chairman Dr Rufino Monteiro mentioned, “Sesa Football Academy has done great service to Goan football over the years and it would have been much healthier if the academy could continue to help develop football in Goa. It is very disheartening because the academy was a great help to Goan football.”
On the possibility of GFDC taking over the academy and continue the good work done by Sesa Football Academy, Dr Monteiro informed, “We have to see what are the economic terms and conditions, and only then a call on the same can be taken whether or not to take over.
SFA supported the basic principle of taking youth development forward, as its senior club played a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of football talent. So it is no surprise that the news of the closure has shocked many outside Goa as well.
Arunava Chaudari, former COO of the Indian Super League club Mumbai City FC and football analyst said, “It is a tragedy for Goan and Indian football. I can surely understand the financial situation of the parent company due to the mining ban but it is a football institution that needs to survive and utilize all that has been created over the years.”
“We often speak in Indian football about the lack of facilities and training methodology, which was excellent at the Sesa Football Academy,” added Chaudari
It may be recalled that many Sesa Football Academy graduates have played in inaugural Indian Super League and continue to play in the I-league.
