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Goa, 22 February 2015: FC Goa today launched its Youth Football Programme today at a well-attended Grassroots Football Festival at the SAG complex at Bambolim in Goa. The Club also took this occasion to introduce its Grassroots Coach, Gavin Araujo; an AFC A license Coach. 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.
Arjuna Awardees and FC Goa’s well wishers BrahmanandSancoalkar and Bruno Coutinho also graced the Festival.
The Festival saw 800 budding children participate from 16 schools spread all across Goa. The select age group were from 6 years to 12 years. FC Goa’s initiative will strengthen the Football Programme of these 16 Schools while nurturing the budding talents of Goa.
The objective of this festival is to introduce children to the game of football in a friendly playing environment, where they are encouraged to experience football and begin loving the sport while developing their inherent talent. The festival has been planned not to be competitive in nature for the children, with no winners being announced. The children were taken through various fun drills and games so that they get comfortable with the ball at their feet.
The children demonstrated their skills under the watchful eyes of Gavin and 4 of his assistant coaches and 8 Grassroots coaches, besides 16 PE teachers from the respective schools who also assisted in this induction programme.
FC Goa youth programme coaches organized a well laid out ground plan and SAG supported the event by providing excellent facilities for participants and viewers alike.
The FC Goa Youth Programme will be conducted twice a week for each participant under expert guidance and in course of time, a select group of shortlisted trainees will be able to choose football as a rewarding professional career.
