Panaji
The first phase will kick off in Goa from May 1 to May 15. Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is tasked to conduct the tournament for Maharastra, Telengana, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Dadara & Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu. The curtain raiser of the event was held at Kala Academy, Panaji on Friday.
Approximately 1200 matches will be played in all three phases of this tournament involving close to 12,500 young players, both boys and girls from schools and clubs. The matches in Goa will be played at Nagoa and Navelim Football ground whereas the inaugural and final match will be played at Bambolim ground on May 1 and May 10 respectively. The Second phase of the tournament will be held from June 8-June 25 in Gujarat. The third phase will
be July 8-25.
Minister for Revenue, Rohan Khaunte; Union Minister for AYUSH (independent charge) Shripad Naik; IG-CISF Satish Khandare, IPS; Brand Ambassador of tournament Bruno Coutinho; Chairman of Mormugao Port Trust I. Jeya Kumar; Goa Football Development Corporation (GFDC) Chairman Dr. Rufino Monteiro; Sr. Commandant CISG Himanshu Pandey and eminent sportswoman from Goa Yolanda D’souza were present on the occasion. The programme was attended by staff of CAPF, CISF, football team captains of various school, clubs and football enthusiasts.
In his address, Khandare informed that the tournament is an opportunity to draw mass attention towards the sport. “The Prime Minister has stated that the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in October 2017 must be a catalyst for change. This can be done by creating a mass movement around it. The Central Armed forces has accepted this call and has decided to organize the tournament,” Khandare said.
Coutinho in his address mentioned that sports has the ability to bring people together, to create communication and to foster relationship that can be last lifetime and extended his best wishes to the teams. In his address, chief guest Rohan Khaunte congratulated the CAPFs and CISF for their initiative. Meanwhile, Union Minister Naik said that the government will support sports in all the forms.
“Football is admired all over the country and OORJA is a major step in the world of sports,” he said.
Khaunte and Naik later unveiled the trophies and game mascot respectively. The girls’ team trophy is instituted in the name of Yolanda D’Souza. The guests also unveiled the sports kit and football, followed by an introduction of team captains from various schools and clubs. The programme ended with felicitation of the guests.
