PANJIM: The Goa Football Development Council (GFDC) and Vodafone India jointly unveiled the Inter Centre League Trophy of the Vodafone-GFDC Rising Stars Football Festival at a gala ceremony at SAG’s Athletic Stadium, Bambolim, recently .
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar unveiled the trophy in the presence of Ashish Chandra, Business Head, Maharashtra and Goa, Vodafone India; GFDC Chairman Dr Rufino Monteiro, GFDC Member Secretary Aleixo Da Costa, more than 1100 children from the qualifying teams and other dignitaries.
Addressing the gathering, Parsekar said, “Football is in the blood of the Goans and is undoubtedly the most popular sport in State. While Goa has witnessed many National and International footballing events, Vodafone-GFDC Rising Stars Football Festival was the very first initiative for developing budding talents at grassroots level in 2013.”
“I would like to commend the efforts taken by Vodafone and GFDC for making the initiative a success. I’m extremely impressed with the commendable show put up by young girls and boys in the six-month long tournament. I’m glad that Goa government has incorporated GFDC which has come a long way in providing a platform for budding talent in the State,” he added
Sharing views on the initiative for young and aspiring football talent in Goa, Ashish informed, “We are extremely pleased as Vodafone-GFDC Rising Stars Football Festival is getting bigger and better with each passing year. It is very encouraging to see Goa’s young footballers displaying phenomenal skills during the sixth-month long annual tournament. We are now all set to bring you some more excitement with the Inter Centre League games scheduled to commence on November 28.”
“Vodafone truly believes that given the right nutrition, training, coaching and direction, these children can go on to bigger things and opportunities in football at the club, State and even National level. I congratulate all the qualifying teams and wish them all the very best for the highly competitive games that will delight the participants and audiences over the coming months,” he stated.
Dr Rufino said, “As we get to the second part of the third football festival, I am very happy to see the skill and competitiveness displayed by GFDC trainees. It augurs well for the future course of this tournament and for the rising standard of our State sport.
“On this occasion, we felicitated 25 of our GFDC youngsters who have grown through training at GFDC, playing in the earlier editions of the football festival and have ultimately represented the State of Goa in their age group categories. One of them has played for the country. For this, I congratulate my entire GFDC team of trainees and officers and am grateful to Vodafone for their strategic partnership with us in bringing out the best of our trainees.”
The Inter Centre League begins on November 28 and will showcase over 200 matches till the grand finale in February 2016.
