FC Goa players Jaoquim Abranches, Laxmikant Kathimani, Romeo Fernandes, Mandar Rao Dessai, Nicolau Calaco, Dudu, Jonanthan Lucca and Gregory dropped by at the venue during the Sunday Bandstand event to raise awareness and show its support for the capital city of Panaji. The players mingled with the community and autographed merchandise for their young supporters
Panaji
Indian Super League giants FC Goa joined the capital city’s efforts to create a vibrant, smart and sports-friendly city as members of its squad along with the management visited Garcia de Orta on Sunday evening to engage with the community, raise awareness and show its support for the Panaji Smart City Challenge campaign.
CCP commissioner Sanjit Rodrigues welcomed the Gaurs to cheers from citizens gathered at the garden for the event. The Original Bandstand is a community event organized by the CII’s Panaji First initiative in collaboration with the Corporation of the City of Panaji every Sunday evening. FC Goa co-owner Shrinivas Dempo is one of the trustees of the Panaji First initiative.
FC Goa players Jaoquim Abranches, Laxmikant Kathimani, Romeo Fernandes, Mandar Rao Dessai, Nicolau Calaco, Dudu, Jonanthan Lucca and Gregory dropped by at the venue during the Sunday Bandstand event to raise awareness and show its support for the capital city of Panaji. The players mingled with the community and autographed merchandise for their young supporters.
At the event, the club submitted a petition to city leaders to create a football park for the benefit of Goa’s football enthusiasts. The park can be a meeting point for football fans and aficionados of all ages, to come together for the love of the beautiful game. FC Goa has offered its support and assistance to the officials in making the project a reality.
Panaji has been selected in the list of 100 smart cities under the Smart City Mission of Union Ministry of Urban Development launched in June this year. As the next step, Panaji now has to get shortlisted in the final round of the MoUD’s Smart City Challenge, where 20 other cities would be selected to be developed in the first year.
Said Sukhvinder Singh, CEO, FC Goa, “FC Goa is present at the event today to show solidarity to the cause of making the state capital Panaji a better city. We wish to see a lot many more citizens of Goa experience the goodness of football. We strongly propose to the authorities to invest in football infrastructure especially at the recreational level considering that many young people across all age groups want to step out and play football. Such mass engagement will lead to a bigger participation and a healthier society. FC Goa would love to do everything possible to create a great atmosphere if the CCP creates the country's first football park in Panaji.
Added Rodrigues, “We are delighted to have team FC Goa at Garcia de Orta. FC Goa has come forward with a smart idea for a smart Panaji. The club has suggested that the city should have a football park and have come forward to collaborate with the city. This couldn’t have come at a better time as the city is involved in the Smart City Challenge.”
