14 young football talents from Goa reach final phase of Reliance Foundation Young Champs Scholarship Program
Goa, May, 2015: FC Goa’s Grassroots development programme which commenced a few months ago saw FC Goa reaching out to over 20,000 children and actively mentoring and coaching over 1500 students from 16 schools in the sport of football.
Now, 14 of Goa’s most promising footballers between the age of 11 and 13 have been selected for the next phase of Reliance Foundation Young Champs national selection camp to be held later this month in Mumbai. Of the 200 players participating from across the country, 25 players will be selected to receive the ISL Young Champs Scholarship.
The first-ever Reliance Foundation Young Champs Scholarship Program - a nationwide search for the country's next footballing stars is underway and will culminate in Mumbai later this month.
The 14 shortlisted players will participate in the week-long Reliance Foundation Young Champs national selection camp to be held in Mumbai later in this month.
In continuation with its commitment to encourage and support football, FC Goa had organised the FC Goa Grassroots Football Festival for children between the age of 11 and 13 years, at Tilak Maidan, Vasco.
Piet Hubers, Technical Director Grassroots, Indian Super League was down in Goa last month to scout for potential talent at the grassroots festival. 14 talented boys from over 2000 students have been selected for the next phase in Mumbai.
Boys who were selected from those born in 2002 are:
Ramson Cardoso (St. Anthonys, Guirim)
Jeston Pinto (St. Rocks,Velim)
Sahil Patil (St. Anthony, Duler)
Asfin Pinto (St. Rocks,Velim)
Tristan Fernandes (Father Agnel ,Pilar)
Boys who were selected from those born in 2003 are:
Leavan Castanha (St. Rita HS, Maina)
Joval Dias (St. Rita HS ,Maina)
Priceo Menezes (St. Joseph ,Chandor)
Velroy Cardozo (Our Lady of Poor,Tilamol)
Jimmy Colaco (Fr Agnel, Verna)
Boys who were selected from those born in 2004 are:
Sanket Patil (St. Anthonys Duler)
Elson Pereira (Father Agnel Central School,Pilar)
Ryan Menezes (St. Joseph, Chandor)
Joefan Faria (Our Lady of Poor Tilamol)
Over the last few months FC Goa’s Grassroots Coach, Gavin Araujo, an AFC A license Coach has been working closely with Goa’s young talented footballers. Gavin has been an excellent footballer and has captained Goa at the U-16, U-19 and U-21 age groups with a long playing stint at Vasco SC.
Gavin has been supported by a team of 4 assistant coaches and 8 grassroots coaches, besides 16 physical education teachers from the respective schools inducted in the programme.
Mr. Shrinivas Dempo, CMD of Dempo Group of Companies and Co-Owner of FC Goa, said “The enthusiasm and interest in the sport of football is what drives us to invest in it. Football has always come before everything else. We at FC Goa are committed to elevate the sport of football to a whole new level. FC Goa’s grassroots initiative has been born with the intent to give birth to rising stars in Goa and we are certain that we will make that happen.”
Added Mr.Dattaraj V. Salgaocar, MD of V M Salgaocar and Company and Co-Owner of FC Goa, “We all shared a common dream - to make a valuable contribution to Indian football and elevate the standards of the sport in the country. Developing the game of football is an integral part of the continued success of FC Goa and we are committed to making it happen.”
“Over the past months the club has been engaged in an impact oriented grassroots development programme. FC Goa has a bright future and we are working tirelessly towards it.”