the goan I network
PANAJI
FC Goa in association with Forca Goa Foundation launched its inaugural Soccer School programme with two special summer camps earlier this month. The camps, which kicked off on April 20 will run for a month, are being held at Sangolda Panchayat ground in North Goa and Raia Sports ground in South Goa.
FC Goa players Mohammed Ali and Brandon Fernandes dropped by during the training to interact with the young players and share nuggets of information with them. The players took great care to exhibit the dos and don’ts on the field, allowing children to watch, learn and develop their skills, in addition to training drills.
Derrick Pereira, assistant coach to the first team, has designed a special training programme for the summer camp. The summer camps which are open for girls and boys between the ages of 7 to 14 also have nutritional
workshops.
The training sessions are conducted by AIFF certified coaches from the Forca Goa Foundation, who have been involved with football grassroots development in Goa for the last three years. The training sessions focus on developing the technical skills of children while ensuring they enjoy the game.
Speaking on the FC Goa Soccer School programme, defender Ali Mohamed said, “This is a great opportunity for children to participate and learn from trained coaches who can give them the attention they need to develop their game and improve their skill sets.”
Midfielder Brandon Fernandes agreed. He said, “I’m glad that the club is organising camps like these where the focus is not only on football but also on other important aspects like nutrition and physical fitness, which helps children become better and stronger footballers.”
FC Goa Soccer School’s young recruits are being groomed in the nuances of the sport by experts who are part of the programme curated by Derrick.
“I am enjoying this camp a lot as I have managed to improve my control over the ball. I’ve also managed to make a lot of friends and most importantly, I am enjoying playing this beautiful game,” said Abraham Rodrigues, a student of Manovikas High School, Margao who has signed up for the ambitious programme.
