Indian Super League side FC Goa continue their initiative for improving youth setup from the grass-root levels. This year they have announced a partnership with Sporting Club of Porvorim, a local village club headquartered at Salvador do Mundo. Last year, they tied up with the Panchayat of Salvador do Mundo. They built an international standard training ground and dressing rooms for the club’s first team.
Improvement of technicalities
FC Goa will provide professional and technical expertise to the Sporting Club of Porvorim. The whole process will be held under the supervision of FC Goa’s Technical Team. Under this supervision, the youths of the Porvorim constituency will play for the Sporting Club of Porvorim in the U14 and U18 levels. Besides, officials of FC Goa will initiate various activities and training for the youths.
Long-term goals
Sporting Club of Porvorim will participate in all the youth development leagues organised by Goa Football Association and the All India Football Federation (AIFF). FC Goa has faith in this process and the officials are hoping that some of the youngsters playing in this set-up will eventually break into the youth teams and later on to the first team of FC Goa. Thus with that belief, they are looking forward to it as a cornerstone of Indian football’s future.
Festivities for Children
This partnership will not be limited to academic tournaments and footballing sessions. The Gaurs will also take the initiative to arrange various festivities in the grass-roots, possibly every month. Children of 10 to 12 years of age will participate in these occasions. Hence. this clearly shows that the ISL franchise want to focus on youth development from the very early ages of childhood.
Trials for admission
Apart from that, the Sporting Club of Porvorim has opened trails for children of 14 to 18 years of age. The specific guidance has also been released. Boys who are born on/after 1st January 2004 and 1st January 2009 will be eligible for the trials for U18 and U14 levels respectively.
For the grass-roots levels, the club has focused on scouting for children who are born on/after 1st January 2010. Only the children who can fulfil this age criterion will be eligible to give trials for the U12. Likewise, children born on/after 1st January 2012 will be able to try out for the U10 team.
Author’s take
Today almost every internationally established club in the world has its own world-class academy system. It not only secures a continuous supply of young talents for the senior squad. But also enrich the country’s footballing structure. FC Goa is making a step forward in the right direction. The initiative will help them produce more young talents who can turn out to be crucial for FC Goa in the various competitions. Besides, gradually it will definitely help the state regain its elite status of producing talents for the Indian national team.
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