NIRAJ PRABHU
PANAJI
Dempo Sports Club president Shrinivas Dempo has emphasised his vision of producing the “most professional” footballers in the country. He reiterated the target of churning out talented crop of players through their ambitious football academy, on the occasion of the first awards day for youth development teams on Saturday.
The 2017-18 season has proved very encouraging for Dempo’s youth teams from U-14 to U-20 categories even as the first-team finished second-best in GFA Pro-League. Dempo hailed the coaching staff under the guidance of technical director Katz Naidoo. First-team coach and former India international Samir Naik, also came in for accolades for his discipline, while guiding the senior team.
Dempo, who finds nothing worthwhile in the offing to force a rethink on going back in the national league fold or support the All India Football Federation’s youth team, highlighted what the youngsters across their club teams mean for the extended footballing family.
“It was a very hard decision for me when we opted out of I-League... and then we deliberated on how to do justice to this game of football, which has given us all the respect as a family. The Goans overall have supported the family for football. (Then) We thought the best way (to pay them back) is to make all of you the ‘most professional’ footballers in the country. That’s the vision that we have and that is the dream we need to fulfil,” said Dempo, addressing the youth team players in attendance at the group head office in the city.
The teams go in for holidays now with the academy boys marked to return in the first week of June. Their seniors will be back in training in July. Dempo advised the boys to stay away from temptations, especially with food habits, as they will be back with their families in holidays. Overall discipline is the key, stressed Dempo, saying: “Nothing comes easy, there is no free lunch for all of us including me. So you have to realise that to come up in life in football or anywhere else; hard work, commitment, passion and honesty are the most important qualities that you need. God has given us 24 hours. Sleep for eight hours, work for eight hours and keep the rest for the other things. If you really make this math, I think you can achieve anything. You all have made this beginning, and I must compliment Katz and his entire team of coaches for the hard work being
put in.”
Experienced South African technical director Naidoo assured Dempo that his team will leave no stone unturned in the mission to churn out top class players. “I can assure you that every endeavour to reach your objectives will be made,” adding and thanking his staff, saying: “The future depends on the ‘we factor’. I know it was never easy to adapt to my style of football development. But I can safely say this morning that I have a team of specialists involved in football development. Together, we can make the Dempo family realise
their dreams.”
