Goemkarponn desk
SIOLIM: Former French national footballer Vikash Rao Dhorasoo and NRI interacted with and enjoyed a game of football with aspiring footballers from the Siolim Centre of the Goa Football Development Council in the presence of Chairman Brahamanand Shankhwalkar, the Siolim- Marna village panchayat members and other officials.
Dhorasoo, who was part of the French national football team in the 2006 world cup and who came on the field in some games during the tournament, urged the young footballers to keep dreaming big and not give up on their dreams of playing football.
“You have to dream and believe in that, and maybe it will not happen, and it may not happen, but with all you have learnt in football, you can have a good life,” Dhorasoo said.
He also said he hoped that one day, India would improve in football and be able to qualify for the world cup.
“I’m sure one of the kids who I see playing here today will be part of the team that is playing in the world cup. I’m hopeful India gets to host the world cup as well,” Dhorasoo added.
Speaking of his time in professional football, Dhorasoo said football gave him life, and it was his duty to help others.
“Football gives me everything so I’ve to give something to the children. Maybe you will have some success in football, and you will have a lot of things in life. If a lot of girls and boys play football, the level will increase,” he said.
“Pedagogy and psychology cannot be learnt from books. The nutrition, the preparation physically and mentally, be strong; you are under a lot. You have to resist pressure. You have to have a lot of confidence, and you have to be intuitive,” he said.
“It is always a good experience with a lot of good players against me or with me, and Zinedine Zidane was with me in the national tea0m before in the qualification in the tournament. It was a pleasure,” he said.
He said he was hopeful of a collaboration between him and Goa to take football forward.
“We talked this morning about a collaboration between Goa and me and hope we can conclude something,” he said.
GFDC Council Chairman Brahmanand Shankhwalkar said that Dhorasso was a living example of what Indians can achieve.
“He is the greatest inspiration to show that if a person of Indian origin can reach such a level then why not these kids. He has gone through a very difficult life in football. all his passion, love and efforts — maximum support to the child to carry on football. We don’t know about tomorrow where one can choose. Football can teach you life,” Shankhwalkar said.
“He has gone through all this. It is achievable,” he added.
GFDC Council members, Shantaram Naik, Colin Vaz and Pradeep Chodankar were present on the occasion.
The festival had drill stations which included small side games and fun activities related to dribbling and passing. The entire festival was well planned by the GFDC Centre head Gregory E Dsouza with the help of his coaches Zeena Soares and Chinmay Jalmi along with the support of the ground staff, Tony Dias.
Dhorasoo earlier interacted with the children, who were present, which includes those from the Aldona and Socorro centers in addition to those from the Siolim centre.
Shankhwalkar and Dhorasoo were felicitated on the occasion.
The event was sponsored by the Siolim- Marna Village Panchayat Child Committee.
