Salgaocar FC launches Community Outreach Programme

I-League side Salgaocar FC launched their football community outreach program at Regina Mundi HS ground for Vasco boys and girls from 6 to 11 years of age on September 15.

Around 300 children from all Vasco-based schools such as Regina Mundi, St. Andrews, Naval Public, etc. attended the programme.

Senior team head coach Derrick Pereira said, “Starting at this age is how we develop world class footballers. In recent times, there have been very few professional footballers who have emerged from Vasco. With this programme, we would like to change that. However, more important, we want to build up a healthy community through sport – we want the children to enjoy football, stay healthy and imbibe values of discipline, sportsmanship and fair play, which is applicable to life.”

The Vasco-based club launched by the late Vassudev M. Salgaocar, the founder of V.M. Salgaocar & Brothers, in 1956 wants to give back by focusing its investment and resources in a system that develops talented local players and builds up the community, through football.

“Our senior team forms the tip of the Salgaocar FC pyramid and our Youth Development program forms its middle, but without a doubt it is community programs like this one that form its foundation and base,” said SFC youth development vice-president Swati Salgaocar.

All the senior and junior team SFC coaches, experienced senior team players like Rocus Lamare, Darryl Duffy, Chika Wali, Francis Fernandes, Augustine Fernandes were part on the opening day of the programme with Salgaocar junior players volunteering as ground managers. This new programme will be held every weekend up to end April 2014.