14 of Goa’s young talented footballers make it to the final phase of Reliance Foundation Young Champs Scholarship Program

by Kaushal Shukla May 7, 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 – a training and selection camp organised by the Reliance Foundation.

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.

Young talented players from each of the eight franchisee clubs will participate in the week-long Reliance Foundation Young Champs national selection camp to be held in Mumbai later in May. 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. 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)\
Piet Hubers, Technical Director Grassroots, Indian Super League was down in Goa to scout for potential talent at the grassroots festival.

Over the last three 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.

The festival under FC Goa’s Grassroots Development Programme saw 200selected footballers from 16 schools spread all across Goa, participating in the festival. The objective of the festival is to select about children in the age group of 11 – 13 years who will participate in Reliance Foundation Young Champs selection camp.

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.”

FC Goa youth programme coaches had organised a well laid out ground plan and SAG supported the event by providing excellent facilities for participants and viewers alike.

About FC Goa: Launched on August 26, 2014, FC Goa is Goa’s premier football club competing in the Hero Indian Super League, India’s top tier football league. Owned by Mr. VenugopalDhoot, Mr. DattarajSalgaocar, Mr. ShrinivasDempo and Mr.ViratKohli, it has its home ground at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa. It had an extraordinary run in the First Season.

Boys provisionally selected Born in 2002
Name Position School
Ramson Cardoso Mid St. Anthonys, Guirim
Jeston Pinto STr St. Rocks,Velim
Sahil Patil Str St. Anthony, Duler
Asfin Pinto STr St. Rocks,Velim
Tristan Fernandes Str Father Agnel ,Pilar

Boys provisionally selected Born in 2003
Name Position School
Leavan Castanha Str St. Rita HS, Maina
Joval Dias Str St. Rita HS ,Maina
Priceo Menezes Str St. Joseph ,Chandor
Velroy Cardozo Str Our Lady of Poor,Tilamol
Jimmy Colaco STr Fr Agnel, Verna

Boys provisionally selected Born in 2004
Name Position School
Sanket Patil Str St. Anthonys Duler
Elson Pereira Mid Father Agnel Central School,Pilar
Ryan Menezes Def St. Joseph, Chandor
Joefan Faria Str Our Lady of Poor Tilamol