ALLAN D’CRUZ
PANJIM: After missing out on having a single boy in the India team for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017 due to various reasons, the announcement of India winning the bid to host the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2020 has put the Goa Football Association toreal test and the State Football governing body has wasted no time in launching an initiative to have State players in the team.
Goa has churned players who made it to the top flight in football with the National side in the past. However, it may be recalled that during the U-17 Men’s World Cup in 2017 Goans and their football fraternity were left agitated and frustrated when the National side did not feature any Goan player who could proudly boast a sense of pride at the international tournament despite having one of the venues in the State.
Looking not to repeat the same mistake twice, Goa still has time on their side but as the clock continues to run down it looks quiet alarming that women football in Goa may meet the fate.
Mitchel Castanha is currently the epitome of women football in the State who made the National cut in the recently held international level. However, with Mitchel reaching the twilight of her football career, Goa continues and remains hopeful of finding a new torch bearer who will carry the aspirations of women football at the pinnacle.
“We would like to see that some Goan girls are part of the U-17 World Cup team. Goa didn’t have a single representation in the India U-17 world team in the 2017 season and to avoid further embarrassment in the women’s section we intended to work together to get atleast a player in the National team,” said executive member Domnic Pereira.
The AIFF will be conducting the Junior Girls NFC from April 20 wherein the players born between 2003 to 2005 would be featuring in the teams.
However, the State association fears that the best talent would miss out on the selection due to the SCC board examinations which will commence from April 2 to 15 thus narrowing the chances of having Goan players in the team.
But the State Association wasted no time in responding to the AIFF as they drafted an instant mail highlighting the issue and requesting for a trials opportunity in the State for the players who could miss the Junior National games, “We have to inform you that the best talent from Goa will not be able to represent the Goa state as most of the girls are answering the SSC Examination from April 2 to April 15. We hope that there will be further selection trials or else some of the best talent would be missed out as we need to field a strong India team at the 2020 World Cup U-17 Women’s Championship.
“Our girls are talented and only proper guidance will help them to be stronger. The girls should undergo rigorous coaching before they attend the National trials for which the GFA intends to invite a Portuguese coach and talks are already held with Mr Elvis Goes who has been invited by AIFF for introducing specialized coaching programme,” said GFA Vice President North Lavinio Rebello, who is also the technical committee chairman.
With no grassroots and proper league structures besides the only league – Vedanta Women’s League – –the real question is how many players actually the desired playing team so far and it also raises another question whether the Goan players have the experience?
“There have been no progressive growth. In Goa all the sporting bodies have to work together as a unit for the development of the sport,” said GFA acting secretary Jovito Lopes.
“Football development has suffered over the years and this is the concern of the GFA and we have to find out the best way of presenting the best Goan talent. We know we have less time. But that shouldn’t be an excuse to give up. Football being the State sport, I think we should all work together for the development of the sport and women too,” added Lopes, who said that the State football association has already communicated with the Sports Authority of Goa and Goa Football Development Council to work together to have atleast one Goan talent in the Nat football team for the World Cup.
