PANAJI
The Chairman of Goa Football Development Council (GFDC), Glenn Ticlo, stated that he will strive to take the council to the next level.
He was speaking at the International Women’s Day celebration and kit distribution held at the GFDC Corlim Centre on Thursday. The event was conducted by Portais Sporting Club in association with GFDC and attended by GFDC Member Secretary Fransquinha Oliveira, GFDC Vice-Chairman Dhaku Madkaikar, and other dignitaries.
“GFDC was the brainchild of our late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and now we have 36 centres. Now time has come to take it to a higher level. Everyone at the council is working in that direction. As a former sportsperson in hockey, football, martial arts, etc, I will ensure to do whatever I can in my capacity to uplift GFDC,” said Glenn.
“Our Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar are dynamic and working towards our common goal. With their support, we need to upgrade many aspects like trainers, coaches and the facilities at the 36 centres. We are focusing to ensure our trainees have proper gear and nutrition,” he said.
Madkaikar said that the government is providing all the support to take the sport forward. He said that many Goan football clubs like Salgaocar FC, Dempo SC, Chowgule SC, Churchill Brothers FC Goa, and FC Goa have helped the sport flourish, and to promote football further, the Goa government is providing support.
GFDC currently has 21 women coaches across Goa — 11 in North and 10 in South — training around 670 girl trainees at its centres, reflecting the growing participation of girls in football.
The programme was attended by special invitees Kusta Salelkar, Sarpanch of Carambolim; Gorakhnath Kerkar, Sarpanch of Corlim; and Bro. Vinod Reddy, Director of Montfort, Corlim. Also present on the occasion were Laxman Hadfadkar, Executive Member of Goa Football Association; Bro. Praveen Kumar D, Manager of Montfort, Corlim; Dayanand Bhagat, GFDC Centre Head, Marcel Centre and Leena Gaunso, Female coach Corlim centre.
During the ceremony, GFDC ex-trainee Mehboob Khan and Deepa Verma, a powerlifting and deadlift champion, were felicitated for their achievements in sports.
Exhibition matches were also held, where North Goa coaches defeated South Goa coaches 2-1, while Corlim trainees Pink beat Orange 1-0.
