Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa Football Development Council (GFDC) celebrated its 14th anniversary at Atal Stadium in Cujira, marking more than a decade of dedicated efforts to strengthen grassroots football while unveiling an ambitious vision to produce more players capable of representing Goa and India.
The milestone event brought together government officials, GFDC office bearers, coaches, trainees, parents and football enthusiasts to celebrate the Council’s achievements and outline its future roadmap for football development in the state.
GFDC Chairman Glenn Souza Ticlo paid tribute to late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, describing him as the visionary behind the establishment of the Council and the decision to declare football as Goa’s State Sport. He said the initiative was created to ensure every child in Goa had access to quality football training and opportunities to excel in the sport.
Reflecting on the Council’s growth, Ticlo said GFDC now operates 36 training centres across Goa with 64 qualified coaches, providing structured coaching to thousands of young footballers and building a strong talent pipeline for the future of Goan football.
Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Dr. Ramesh Tawadkar described the 14 year milestone as an opportunity to raise the standards of football development in Goa. He called for greater accountability from all stakeholders and stressed the need to produce more footballers capable of competing at the highest level. To strengthen the talent development system, he proposed setting up two residential football academies with hostel facilities for around 50 promising young players, offering professional coaching and year round training.
Sports Authority of Goa Executive Director Dr. Ajay Gaude praised GFDC’s contribution to grassroots football and emphasised the importance of expanding academies and introducing a structured league system to provide regular competitive exposure for young players across the state.
GFDC Member Secretary Fransquinha Oliveira said the Council has evolved into one of India’s strongest grassroots football networks, with several trainees progressing to represent the country internationally. Reaffirming the Council’s long term vision, she said GFDC remains committed to making Goa the football capital of India while inspiring young footballers to pursue their dreams.
The celebration concluded with the recognition of 64 coaches, 36 centre heads and 36 groundspersons for their contribution to grassroots football. Seventeen long serving members of the GFDC family, including staff, coaches, a groundsperson and a former coach, were also felicitated for their dedicated service.
