PANJIM: Vodafone India and Goa Football Development Council (GFDC),unveiled the inter centre league trophy of Vodafone GFDC Rising Stars Football Festival, at Bambolim Athletics stadium, coinciding with Children’s Day, on Friday.
The trophy was unveiled by Dr Rufino Monteiro, Chairman of GFDC; Elvis Gomes, Member Secretary of GFDC and GFA President; Brahmand Sankhwalkar, Arjuna Awardee and former captain of Indian football team; Anthony Wolfe and Joyner Lourenco, players of Sporting Clube de Goa in the presence of over 1000 trainees from the qualifying teams and other dignitaries.
Dr Rufino in his addressinformed, “900 children will take part in the inter-centre league phase. It has been a very satisfying experience to see 3000 trainees at grassroots level enjoying the intra-centre leg.”
Sharing his views on this unique initiative for young and aspiring football talent in Goa, Ishmeet Singh, Business Head – Maharashtra and Goa, Vodafone India said, “We are extremely pleased to see the enthusiastic response to the second edition of Vodafone GFDC Rising Stars Football Festival. The two month long intra centre league saw households and families across all 25 centres coming all out to encourage their little champions who participated in the games.”
The participating kids put up a commendable show of strength, fitness, concentration and integrity. We are now all set to bring you some more excitement with the inter centre league games scheduled to commence on November 22 and will showcase over 140 matches till the grand finale in February, 2015.
The 25 centres have been divided into four zones wherein teams from six centres will play against each other to find a place in the knock out stage.
Top two teams from each zone in each category will make it to the knock out stage and battle it out for the coveted title.
“At the zonal level, the inter centre league will surely be a delight to watch, as we have some very skilled and talented rising stars. Such grassroots initiatives have propelled some of the football powerhouses of the world to where they are and I am hopeful that the Vodafone GFDC Rising Stars programme will also bring us success. Our ultimate vision is to achieve our goal of making Goa the Mecca of Indian football,” signed off Dr Rufino.
