FC Goa held its grassroots tournament for under-12 players for its 16 teams across the state. The Indian Super League franchise has tied up with schools across the state to develop the teams at these centres under its grassroots development programme as mandated under the rules of the new cash-rich football league organised by IMG-Reliance, in association with the All India Football Federation. As defined by the league, its grassroots programme is a "multi-layered strategic initiative aimed at enabling boys and girls between the age group of 6 to 14 across the country to play football as well as develop their skills and talent".
The ISL aims to reach out to a million young footballers in the first few years and expose them to the best practices in global football. Heading the programme is Piet Hubers, a Dutch veteran who has over 30 years of experience of working in grassroots development programmes in Europe. While the league has partnered with other organisations for this project, the ISL franchises are expected to do the bulk of the work to achieve the lofty short-term goals it has set for itself.
While it remains a big challenge, the ISL has made all the right noises and has made a bright start for itself in a country which does not warm up to any team sport, other than cricket, too easily. The ISL -- as have other similarly conceptualised leagues in hockey, badminton and kabaddi -- has shown that there is space for team sports in India, provided they are packaged and broadcast to the audiences well.
However for ISL, the real challenge lies ahead. As it tries to expand in the future, it will have to deliver and fulfill the objectives it has set out to achieve; not just for its own success but for the larger good of football in India. Here's where the clubs will play a major role. Even as the league evolves and expands, the franchises will have to develop and implement their own youth development programmes so that they build their teams for the future. Undoubtedly, there would be a steady flow of impressive foreign talent -- be it old warhorses, or young colts who inevitably go off the track in the elite western leagues, the core of the team will have to be formed of the Indian homegrown talent, the products of the youth system.
As the representative of the State which is one of the hotbeds of Indian football, FC Goa will have the responsibility to spot and develop the football talent in Goa. The franchise is one of the most followed football clubs in the country now, loved for its flair on the field and the good vibes it gives to the fans through their association with it off the field. It's their club and they like to flaunt being its fans and the young ones want to play for it in the future. A steady supply of footballers from the grassroots is essential to fill in the gaps and two editions of the ISL have shown that local talent can rise to the level of international stars.
FC Goa has done well to kick start its youth programme and it has to kindle the fire of desire to help these youngsters work towards becoming the future 'Gaurs'.
