Salgaocar FC organise Grassroots Festival to commemorate AFC Grassroots Day
Vasco: Salgaocar FC organised a Grassroots football festival earlier today at the Chicalim Panchayat Ground amidst much fanfare and a carnival-like atmosphere, to commemorate AFC Grassroots Day. A large number of girls and boys in the age group of 6-11 years from the club’s Community Outreach Program, the partner schools and the club’s U-10 and U-12 teams dressed in their Salgaocar kits participated in the festival.
The festival was an extension of the Club’s Community Outreach Program, held at the same venue through the course of the year. The event kicked off at 8 am and witnessed children play small-sided games in addition to participating in games and drills that were both fun and engaging.
The Community Outreach Program held over 22 Sundays between October and April attracted close to 600 girls and boys in the age group of 6 to 11 years has been very well received by children and parents alike.
The children are divided into 2 batches to ensure optimum individual attention by the club’s highly qualified and experienced coaches and first team players. A total of 40 coaches were involved in the program this year.
Given that the children look up to some of the first tem players as role models and watch them in action when taken to the club’s home I-League games, it is extremely motivational for them to turn up every Sunday and share the field with their heroes. The basics of the ‘beautiful game’ are imparted to these budding footballers who seem to enjoy every minute spent on the field, often braving the scorching heat.
The most talented boys from the Community Program are inducted into the club’s renowned youth development system. Some of Goa’s and India’s biggest football names have emerged through the club’s ranks.