Akshat Hadkonkar of Sporting Clube de Goa is the only Goan lad to feature in the final 16 list of Star Sports Young Heroes U-15 footballers. Akshat along with 15 other young talented footballers from India would be training under the coaches of Real Madrid Academy and Spanish Federation at Las Rozas Sports City in Spain in the month of April
The Goan Network
Panaji
Akshat Hadkonkar of Sporting Clube de Goa is the only Goan lad to feature in the final 16 list of Star Sports Young Heroes U-15 footballers. Akshat along with 15 other young talented footballers from India would be training under the coaches of Real Madrid Academy and Spanish Federation at Las Rozas Sports City in Spain in the month of April.
The competition engaged approximately 4,20,000 students with matches being played across various cities of India. Among all who participated in the matches, 45 outstanding young footballers were hand-picked for a camp where they played some friendly matches and interacted with coaches from I-League and ISL. From here the final 16 were selected for the trip to Spain.
Akshat Hadkonkar, a student of Don Bosco Panjim, was picked up by Sporting Clube de Goa way back in 2012 following the U-12 inter-school tournament organized by them at Don Bosco grounds, Panaji.
Since then Akshat has been a regular in Sporting’s youth teams. He was the part of Sporting's U-14 team which went on to win GFA League in the year 2013-14, and currently a member of Sporting’s U-15 AIFF Youth League team, which has qualified from Goa Zone.
Speaking to media today at the Club House in Don Bosco he said: “I am very happy, it’s been a dream come true for me.”
When quizzed about whom he would dedicate this achievement to, Akshat said:“This is the result of everyone who has influenced me right from my coaches at Sporting like Joaquim Crasto, Seby Noronha, Fransis Raposo to my teachers, my Principal Fr Avan Carvalho. I also thank the Sporting Clube management and most importantly the club president Peter Vaz for making this dream a reality."
Akshat had a special mention for his parents who tirelessly supported him in chasing his dream and most importantly believing in him. “I would like to thank my parents who have supported me and guided me in pursuing my dreams,” said an emotional Akshat.
When asked about his future plans he was quick to say:“I want to continue playing for Sporting and some day don the colours of my country. That will really mean a lot to me.”
Principal of Don Bosco Fr Avan Carvalho said: “He was always going to make it big, I am very happy for him. Goalkeeping is not everyone’s forte, it takes that much courage and even more hard work to choose this playing position and Akshat has done pretty well.”
“It’s been the guidance of coaches which has played an important role in his overall development. The initiatives taken by Don Bosco’s and Sporting is aimed at creating many more such Akshats,” said Fr Avan Carvalho.
