THE GOAN | PANAJI
With each village having its own unofficial football club and local matches drawing crowds on Sunday mornings, the scene is much the same across Goa. Village grounds remain packed, rain or shine, with teams turning up in their local jerseys and players giving their all. Yet, as India takes on Panama, Brazil and Uruguay in a series of international friendlies, only two Goans, Albino Gomes and Irfan Yadwad, featured in the current national squad.
For a State with such a strong football culture and a history of producing players who have represented India, including national-team captains and players who have competed internationally, the question of why fewer Goan footballers are now making that jump continues to be asked.
Grassroots gap
According to Venancio Rodrigues, Founder of Young Striders Football League and Livingfootprints Football Academy, one of the biggest gaps is the lack of regular competition and investment at the grassroots. “A lot of grassroots football is focused on training and practice, while players need regular competition to learn how to apply their technical and tactical skills in real match situations. We have passionate football talent, but there are not enough meaningful competitive opportunities for young players,” he remarks. Echoing this, Leander D’Cunha, a professional footballer at Sporting Club de Goa, says Goa has no shortage of talent or passion, but the pathway for players needs to improve. “Many young players have the talent, but they don’t always get enough exposure to higher-level competition, quality facilities, professional coaching and opportunities outside Goa,” he says, adding that talent needs to be identified early and given the right environment to develop.
Stepping up
While better opportunities and stronger systems are important, Shashwat Kamat, Recruitment and Performance Analyst at Wolves FC, believes players also need to step up. He says young footballers should be willing to move beyond their comfort zone rather than become too comfortable with early recognition, especially through social media. “Moreover, I believe more Goan players need to be willing to step outside their comfort zone. Very few explore opportunities abroad or in more demanding environments where the game is quicker, more physical and tactically challenging,” he says. He believes this mindset is important for building a high-performance culture and taking players beyond India's professional level.
Support needed
However, taking that next step also depends on what players have access to. Rodrigues points to consistent opportunities, good facilities, nutrition, and financial help, especially when travelling for competitions. D’Cunha adds that injuries can also affect a player’s progress. “Sometimes one injury or one season without the right opportunity can affect a player’s progress,” he says, highlighting the role of coaching, medical care and sports science.
Building pathways
With these challenges in mind, the focus also turns to how the system can be improved. Kamat believes promising players need to be identified early, their progress tracked, and given access to quality coaching, sports science, performance analysis and stronger competition. “When we identify an exceptional 16 or 17-year-old, we shouldn’t just be asking whether they are good enough for Goa. We should be asking what environment and opportunities they need next to see how far they can actually go,” he remarks.
Stronger grassroots
Building on this, Rodrigues would like to see more affordable and regular competitions from the U8 level, giving young players the chance to gain match experience and make decisions under pressure. “If I could change one thing, I would invest much more in grassroots football competitions,” he states. D’Cunha, meanwhile, believes the grassroots-to-professional pathway needs to be strengthened through better facilities, coaching and regular exposure to teams from outside Goa. “Young footballers getting opportunities early will be better prepared for national and eventually international football,” he says.
Clearer route
Every Sunday, as football continues to unfold on grounds across Goa, the passion for the game is clearly not in question. The crowds, local clubs and young players show that the interest runs deep. What remains is whether that talent can be given enough opportunities, competition, and support to move beyond the familiar village ground. For Goa’s football story to once again produce players on the national and international stage, the next goal may not be about finding talent, but giving the talent already here a clear path forward.
