MARGAO
The U-17 girls’ team of Kings School Mugali, Sao Jose de Areal, South Goa began their campaign in the Subroto Mukerjee tournament on Tuesday in New Delhi on a winning note.
The Goa school defeated Government Senior Secondary School, Sombaria Sikkim 1-0 in their opening game. After a barren first half, Valaina Fernandes scored the match winner for the Goa school in the 11th minute of the second session.
They next play Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (Bksp) - a school from Bangladesh and wind up their league engagements in the four-team group with a match against ISSO Dhirubhai Ambani International School, Mumbai on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.
The tournament taking place from Aug 5 to 14 in the national capital will see 34 teams, from various parts of the country along with schools from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh competing for the top prize. The teams are split into eight polls with the champion school from Goa featuring in Group B.
The Chairman of Kings School Melvin Pereira, who is accompanying the team for the Delhi Tournament, said the tournament is an exposure platform for his school team players as they are taking on teams from India as well as a team from Bangladesh.
“It’s credit to them that being Subroto state champions, they are representing the state and playing for our country as they will face Sikkim and Bangladesh. We also face an international IB board school, giving them exposure on several platforms,” Pereira said.
“What is important for us is also endorsing values, a good personality, that are vital to be good global citizens,” he added.
The school’s Spanish Head Coach Cristian Roldan is excited to be part of the national competition.
“We are looking forward to the start of the competition. It is an honour for us to be in Delhi competing with the top 35 teams from all over the country and even have the opportunity to compete against international teams. A total of 560 players united for the same dream,” said Roldan.
The Spaniard is happy that the women’s football in the country and the exposure they are getting in the form of such tournaments which he feels will have a big impact on their football careers.
“That makes us proud of the current development of women's football. It is a big impact for these players to be able to experience this kind of tournament. Learning through high-level matches is what drives them to improve,” he said.
As for his teams’ chances in the competition Roldan said they will be up against some teams and they are ready for the challenge.
“Our chances are to adapt to a new competition and try to perform in every game. We face very tough opponents in the league phase, so we will use those games to grow as a team.”
Periera has seen the players progress over the last four years as his school students and players and is happy with what they have achieved so far.
“Our U17 girls are a young team. We have nurtured their talents over the years, as they have been our students. Over the last year they won 4 state championships and it’s good to see the way they embrace learning and work as a team,” he said.
Pereira said that grassroots development in sports and other extracurricular activities plays a key role in the life of Kings School students and the school management is working in that direction with a well-structured plan.
“Grassroots development is an integral part of our regular, daily life and the girls have that as their ethos. It’s an endeavour we have had since the school started, to make sports, art, life skills and other expressions of multiple intelligences part of our school life,” Pereira said.
“Being a school, we have inculcated in them the importance of balancing academics & sports, knowing that they go hand in hand. Due credit to our teachers who go above & beyond to assist students with the syllabus, encourage them to pursue their passion,” he added.
The Quarter Finals will take place on August 10, while the Semi-finals will be held on August 12 and the final on August 14.
