“I first met Pele in 1973 in Qatar where he came to play an exhibition match. At that moment I questioned him on the secret behind all the successful Brazilian footballers. He invited me to come to Brazil and also advised me on how to develop young stars,”
Pascoal Joao Fernandes, Director of PJF football coaching camp
ANDREA FERNANDES
MAPUSA
The Director of PJF football coaching camp, Pascoal Joao Fernandes (popularly known as 'PJ' among his friends in Goa, Doha-Qatar and around the world) from Socorro feels honoured to welcome the Brazilian football legend Pele to India - a place where football is being cherished. In Qatar, Pascoal was invited to officiate soccer leagues and tournaments where he met with some legends of soccer like Pele (Brazil) and Eusebio (Portugal).
Pascoal’s association with football began as early as 1959 when he started playing for the Indian Hotels in the WIFA League (Mumbai) and for the Socorro Union (Mumbai). He later moved to Doha-Qatar where he represented the Gulf Hotels, Doha-Qatar; and was a founding member of the Qatar Goans.
“I first met Pele in 1973 in Qatar where he came to play an exhibition match. At that moment I questioned him on the secret behind all the successful Brazilian footballers. He invited me to come to Brazil and also advised me on how to develop young stars,” informed the 78-year-old Pascoal, a former football player and lover of the sport.
“It was because of this very moment I got a vision of training children to explore their talent within them and become successful players they are today. It was because of this very man that I started PJF football coaching camp which is this year going to successfully complete twenty years,” added Pascoal.
The PJF football coaching camp was started out as a coaching camp to keep the kids of Socorro fit, busy and away from all the vices. Over the years it has become a recognized camp not only in the village of Socorro, for which it was intended, but also with neighboring villages like Quitula, Bastora, Sangolda, Salvador de Mundo, Penha de France, Porvorim, Uccasaim and Pomburpa. The camp returns home during the Diwali holidays and this year will be held from November 8 to November 22 at SFS seminary football ground, opposite Holy Cross High School, Bastora.
Pascoal Joao in all his humility attributes his success and that the 20 years of existence of PJF Football camp to the continued support of his family, his friends, patrons, the Sports Authority of India and all those that continue to share his dreams.
“I would once again like to thank my friend and role model Pele for all the advice he gave me and for making me a successful director of PJF football coaching camp today,” he concluded.
