When Chief Minister Parsekar unveiled the plaque, Fr Dourado blessed it.The new Government Village School playground at Ambelim has been jointly developed by the Department of Sports & Youth Affairs and Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) at an expense of Rs 2.21 crore
The Goan Network
Margao
The Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Thursday inaugrated a new Government Village School playground at Ambelim in the presence of Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar, Fisheries Minsiter Avertano Furtado, Velim MLA Benjamin Silva, MLAs Vishnu Surya Wagh,Rajan Naik,Fr Cajetan Dourado, Chaplain of Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel, Ambelim, Ambelim Sarpanch Sofia Fernandes, VM Prabhudessai, Director of Sports and Youth Affairs,Aleixo Costa, member secretary of GSFDC and FC Goa fooballer Romeo Fernandes.
When the chief minister unveiled the plaque, Fr Dourado blessed it.The ground has been jointly developed by the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs and Sports Authority of Goa at a cost of Rs 2.21 crore.
After inaugurating the Ambelim ground, the chief minister reminded the people about the government's commitment to football as a State game.
Parsekar said it was during the tenure of the BJP government that football was accorded status of a State game. Simultaneously, the government also commenced GFDC with the objective of giving scientific coaching to young players, he added.
Stating that Goa has produced many world-class football players, the CM claimed that the ground and school in its vicinity provide a holistic environment for the game.
The chief minister also inaugrated the 33rd centre of Goa State Football Development Council. On the ocassion, Velim MLA Silva thanked the government for providing the new ground for the people of Ambelim and surrounding villages. "Football talent in Ambelim had grown playing in the paddy fields, it's been very long that Ambelim needed a ground with grass surface, dressing rooms and spectators stand,this ground will definetly give a lot of opportunties for the local youngsters as well as for other football players," stated Silva and urged the youngsters to play football.
Earlier, VM Prabhudessai welcomed the guests. After mesmering the Indian Super League, FC Goa footballers Romeo Fernandes and Keenan Almeida burst into a wave of awe.The chants of their name filled the air as youngsters were seen signing the autogrpahs. Many people gathered inside and outside the ground and went into frenzy at first sight of the duo.
