the goan I network
MAPUSA
Nine-a-side football may have not yet gained recognition in Goa and India, but the young Goan lads have made the State proud by emerging victorious in the Under 15 category tournament played in Madhya Pradesh.
The U-15 Goan team coached and sponsored by nine-a-side Football Association of Goa got the better of Kerala in the finals.
“16 teams from different States participated in the tournament. Goa beat Haryana in the quarter finals and then put it across Karnataka in the semis to enter the final of the tournament,” said Tushar Bhagat, technical chairman of the team.
Bhagat said that the young Goan team did not concede a single goal throughout the tournament and credited the unique achievement to young goalkeeper, Shantanu, who was declared as the player of the tournament.
He also disclosed that in July this year the Under 19 team had won the cup in a nine-a-side football tournament held in Himachal Pradesh. 22 teams had participated in that tournament.
“We entered in the nine-a-side football arena just two years ago but the success we have tasted by winning two tournaments in such a short interval has made all of us very proud. It’s a great achievement and the credit goes to the boys,” Bhagat said.
He said Football Association of Goa had plans to organize a national level nine-a-side football championship in Goa in November.
