The meeting outlined several strategic decisions aimed at creating a strong and sustainable football ecosystem in Goa. Among the key proposals discussed was the appointment of a Technical Director to oversee football development programmes and ensure uniform technical standards across all GFDC initiatives.
The council also deliberated on the establishment of GFDC North and South Academies to provide structured and accessible training opportunities for young footballers across different regions of the state. This move is expected to decentralise football development and widen talent identification at the grassroots level.
Improving football infrastructure and ensuring access to quality equipment formed a major part of the discussions. The council emphasised the importance of conducting regular coaches’ workshops, upgrading coaching licences and promoting continuous education to enhance coaching standards across Goa.
Strengthening GFDC’s operational capacity was also taken up, with discussions on evaluating the performance of existing coaches and inducting new, committed professionals dedicated to long-term football development in the state.
Speaking after the meeting, Chairman Glenn Ticlo said the council’s priority was to put the right systems in place, from technical leadership to infrastructure and coaching quality, to ensure Goan footballers receive the best possible support. He added that the proposed regional academies would help ensure equal opportunities for talent from all parts of Goa.
The Goa Football Development Council reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with all stakeholders to take Goan football to greater heights in the years ahead.
Panaji: Over the last six to seven years, a structured and community-driven football development model led by Candolim Panchayat, implemented through Super 30 Soccer Schools and represented competitively by Super Goan Football Club, has steadily emerged as one of Goa’s most consistent grassroots football ecosystems.
The programme, headed by president Ricardo Cardozo, focuses on building football development from the grassroots level with an emphasis on structure, patience and continuity. “We have always believed that football development cannot be rushed. If you give children the right environment early and stay committed to the process, results will follow naturally,” Cardozo said.
The system introduces children to organised football training from the age of six, following a progressive age-group structure that focuses on technical skills, tactical understanding, physical conditioning and discipline. This pathway allows players to move seamlessly into competitive football through Super Goan Football Club, the parent club of the programme.
Over the past four years, Super Goan FC has consistently finished among the top four teams in grassroots tournaments, winning multiple competitions, while also establishing itself as a strong contender in the GFA Second Division League with regular top-four finishes.
A major strength of the initiative has been the development of supporting infrastructure across multiple centres. Daily training sessions are held at the Candolim Panchayat Football Academy, where over 100 children train across various age groups. High-intensity futsal sessions are conducted at the Nagoa Futsal Arena.
The football network has expanded to centres at Porvorim and the Benaulim Constituency Football Academy, which functions under the Super 30 umbrella with the support of Warren Alemao, ensuring a common football philosophy across regions.
The programme has received consistent institutional backing from Candolim Panchayat, with continued encouragement from Blaize Fernandes. The technical framework is led by head coach Tony Okafor, while operations and coordination across centres and competitions are managed by Marcos Fernandes, Head of Department and Manager, with support from Shrikrishna Nagvekar.
Beyond results, the initiative has fostered strong community involvement, particularly on matchdays, where parents and supporters turn up in large numbers to create a vibrant atmosphere. “When parents become part of the journey, it motivates the children and strengthens the entire system,” Cardozo added.
One of the most significant outcomes of the programme has been its commitment to developing and competing with homegrown players. Several footballers who began their journey within this structure have progressed to professional youth clubs, continuing their careers beyond grassroots and state-level competitions.
With a clear grassroots-to-club pathway, growing infrastructure and strong community backing, the Candolim Panchayat–Super 30–Super Goan FC model continues to demonstrate how sustained grassroots planning can shape the future of football development in Goa.
Goa, October 30th 2025 — The 4th Vedanta Youth Cup, hosted by Sesa Football Academy, came to a thrilling conclusion with Bengaluru FC edging out AIFF FIFA Talent Academy by a solitary goal to be crowned Champions. The grand finale offered an exhilarating display of young football talent, with both teams exhibiting remarkable skill, determination, and tactical discipline despite challenging wet conditions caused by heavy rains.
The encounter turned out to be a mid-field battle characterized by possession play and swift counterattacks. Both teams demonstrated resilience and technical prowess throughout the match, but the deadlock was finally broken in the 89th minute. Bengaluru FC’s Hrishikesh Charan Nanarathi converted a set-piece corner with a stunning half-volley, delivering the decisive goal that crowned his side champions.
The victorious Bengaluru FC team received the winner’s trophy along with a cash prize of ₹1 lakh, presented by Dronacharya Awardee and veteran coach Mr. Armando Colaco. The runner-up, AIFF FIFA Talent Academy, was awarded ₹70,000, presented by Mr. Laxman Hadfadkar, Executive Member of the Goa Football Association.
The final witnessed the presence of distinguished guests from the football fraternity including Mr. Mohd Faizal Md. So’od, AFC Beach Soccer Instructor and India Beach Soccer Head Coach, Mrs. Daliwza Deena Binti Salihin, Executive Member of the Women’s Football Association in Malaysia, and Mr. Vivek Nagul, Head of Coach Development at the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
Individual brilliance was also recognized, with Hrishikesh Charan Manarathi from Bengaluru FC named both ‘Player of the Tournament’ and ‘Player of the Match’. Leivon Thangalur Kom from Muthoot FA earned the ‘Most Promising Player’ award, while Dhannya Harshit Desai of Bengaluru FC was adjudged ‘Best Goalkeeper’. Prathyush Dev from Muthoot FA received the ‘Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament’ title, and Jinesh Thoudam from the AIFF FIFA Talent Academy was named ‘Best Defender’. The ‘Fair Play’ award went to Cortalim Villagers.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Armando Colaco commended the initiative, stating that the Vedanta Youth Cup serves as a vital platform for identifying and nurturing young football talent in India. He emphasized that the competition’s professionalism and quality reflect the growing depth of football in the country and play a key role in shaping future stars.
Mr. Vivek Nagul of AIFF echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of structured tournaments in developing grassroots and youth football. He praised Vedanta Sesa Goa and Sesa Football Academy for their continued efforts to foster football development and provide competitive opportunities for young players.
The Vedanta Youth Cup continues to be an elite-level platform that showcases the depth of India’s footballing potential, while underscoring Sesa Football Academy’s growing reputation for organizing top-tier tournaments and creating opportunities for emerging football talent across the nation.
On the occasion of National Sports Day, observed annually to commemorate the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, Sesa Goa, a Vedanta Limited company, reflects on a legacy deeply intertwined with sports development in India. The 2025 theme, “Sport to Promote Peaceful Societies,” aligns seamlessly with Sesa Goa’s long-standing commitment to empowering youth and communities through sports.
For over seven decades, Sesa Goa has actively promoted sports across its operational locations. Between 1954 and 1991-92, it ran the Sesa Sports Club, before launching the Sesa Football Academy (SFA) in 1999 at its reclaimed mines in Sanquelim. Over the last 26 years, the SFA has nurtured the dreams of over 8000 young footballers through structured training, football camps, tournaments, and professional pathways. The academy’s senior men’s team was runner-up in the 2023-24 Goa Pro League and advanced to the I-League 3. Remarkably, 12 SFA graduates have gone on to represent India internationally, including notable names like Denzil Franco, Adil Khan, Pratesh Shirodkar, and Glan Martins.
What sets the SFA apart is its unique model — it operates as a non-commercial, CSR-driven initiative that has endured and expanded even during mining bans and economic downturns. Its primary goal is to provide rural youth with access to world-class training and opportunities through sport. The academy has been recognised with a prestigious 3-star accreditation by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), one of just 15 such institutions nationwide and the only one from Goa.
Keeping with evolving times, the SFA has also ventured into women’s football with great success. Since 2017, it has financially supported the Vedanta Women’s League (VWL), now an established breeding ground for women’s football talent in the state. Across 8 seasons, the VWL has supported over 1400 aspiring women footballers. The SFA’s senior women’s team clinched the VWL title in 2025 and went on to secure an impressive 3rd-place finish in the IWL2 — a first for a Goan team. Rising star Pearl Fernandes is currently representing India at the U-17 SAFF Women’s Championship, following in the footsteps of other SFA-trained internationals like Karishma Shirvoikar and Michel Castanha.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Navin Jaju, CEO of Vedanta Sesa Goa, said, “At Vedanta Sesa Goa, we believe sport is a catalyst for transformation. Through the Sesa Football Academy (SFA), we’re nurturing grassroots talent—creating pathways for youth from rural areas to represent India and build secure futures. The SFA Senior Women’s Team’s recent IWL2 performance and the success of players like Pearl Fernandes highlight our commitment to professional training and inclusive growth.”
SFA continues to build the football ecosystem in Goa by organizing a variety of youth tournaments, such as the U-15 Youth Cup for boys and the Sesa Vedanta U-15 Tournament for girls. The Vedanta Football Championship is another key event that brings rural talent into the spotlight, providing a platform for aspiring footballers to shine.
The SFA’s impact has also been praised by Dr. Caitano Fernandes, President of the Goa Football Association (GFA), who stated, “I extend my best wishes to SFA on the occasion of National Sports Day. Sesa Goa has supported hundreds of footballers from Goa and has contributed tremendously to Indian football. Its backing of the Vedanta Women’s League has elevated women’s football in Goa to new heights.”
Beyond football, Vedanta Sesa Goa is actively engaged in supporting other athletes. It has provided extensive support—both financial and logistical—to para-athlete Sakshi Kale, who recently secured a silver medal at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2025 in Delhi and two bronze medals at the Tata India Open Para Athletics Championships. Additionally, Sesa Goa has promoted badminton through the Vedanta Ultimate Badminton League (VUBL), as well as cricket tournaments across its locations—ensuring that athletes from all backgrounds and sports receive holistic support.
Through decades of sustained efforts, Sesa Goa has proven that sports can be a powerful tool for social transformation. On National Sports Day, the success of the Sesa Football Academy, its women’s and para-sports programs, and its role in building inclusive sporting ecosystems stands as a shining example of how corporate responsibility can truly uplift a nation through the medium of sport.
From his early days as a professional footballer to becoming one of Goa’s most sought-after strength and conditioning coaches, Manish Malik has consistently followed one principle: excellence through preparation. Today, as he shapes the athletic future at Sporting Clube de Goa, he is also dreaming bigger — of a Goa where talent thrives on science, structure, and smart recovery.
Manish’s journey into strength and conditioning didn’t begin in a lab or gym — it started on the pitch. As a professional footballer, he was always curious about the deeper mechanics behind peak athletic performance. But like many athletes, he found himself confused and unaware about how and what to train. Over time, this curiosity blossomed into a genuine passion for sports science.
He came to realize that while talent and technique are essential, it’s the physical preparation — strength, conditioning, and recovery — that often decides whether a player can deliver consistent performances week after week. Football, being closest to his heart, naturally became the arena where he wanted to make the biggest impact.
A New Chapter with Sporting Clube de Goa
Manish’s coaching career took a defining turn when Sporting Clube de Goa, one of the most respected football institutions in the state, offered him an opportunity just as the club was promoted from I-League 3 to I-League 2. It was a pivotal moment — both for the club and for Manish. The timing felt right, and the club’s long-term vision aligned perfectly with his own goals.
What drew him to the Goan football network wasn’t just opportunity — it was the spirit of the sport in Goa. The football culture here is vibrant, emotional, and deeply rooted in its communities. Manish saw an opportunity not just to train athletes, but to elevate the entire ecosystem by blending that rich tradition with structured, science-backed training methods.
Science Meets Tradition
At Sporting Clube de Goa, Manish approaches strength and conditioning with a careful balance of innovation and tradition. Every training program begins with a deep dive into the player — their position, style of play, injury history, and current fitness level.
From there, he designs personalized plans that take into account the demands of the league — Goa’s intense heat, frequent travel, and high match density. His priority? Building explosive power, recovery capacity, and physical robustness — without compromising freshness across the season.
“Periodization is everything,” he says, explaining how his plans are structured to help players peak at the right times.
But it’s not just about pushing players harder — it’s also about knowing when to pull them back.
Recovery is Non-Negotiable
For Manish, recovery is just as crucial as the training itself. Without it, players can’t adapt, progress, or stay injury-free. That’s why his recovery protocols are as personalized as the workouts themselves.
From active recovery sessions and mobility drills to ice baths, sleep tracking, and even mindfulness practices, each method is carefully chosen based on the athlete’s unique needs.
“Every body is different,” he emphasizes. “So every recovery plan should be too.”
Blending Technology with Coaching Instincts
Manish is a strong believer in combining old-school fundamentals — discipline, strength, mobility — with modern sports science tools.
He still uses traditional sprint drills and strength routines, but now supplements them with data from GPS trackers, force plates, and jump mats. These tools help him quantify external load (distance covered, sprints), internal load (heart rate response), and neuromuscular feedback (asymmetries, power output).
“Technology doesn’t replace coaching — it sharpens it.”
Individualized Training, Team-Wide Results
Despite coaching a full squad, Manish treats each player as an individual. Pre-season assessments help him understand mobility, strength, endurance, and injury history. Based on this, he tailors training loads — a winger may need repeat sprints; a central midfielder may focus on aerobic capacity.
This attention to detail is especially critical in Goa, where many young players are naturally talented but lack structured strength training backgrounds. Personalized programming not only improves performance — it builds confidence.
Beyond the physical, Manish recognizes the mental pressures young Goan athletes face — juggling sport, academics, family expectations, and often, self-doubt.
As much as he builds physical strength, he’s equally focused on instilling discipline, consistency, and belief.
“Helping them believe in themselves is half the battle,” he says.
That mentorship — often happening off the pitch — might just be his most meaningful work.
Injury Prevention: A Year-Round Priority
Injury prevention, for Manish, starts long before the season begins. His programming emphasizes movement quality, mobility, and prehabilitation — routines that reduce risk before issues arise.
By monitoring workloads and staying in constant communication with the medical team, he ensures that small issues are identified early and never spiral into season-ending injuries.
Most importantly, strength work doesn’t stop after preseason — it’s integrated throughout the year.
A Vision for Goa’s High-Performance Future
Manish’s next big dream? Establishing a world-class high-performance center in Goa.
A space where both professionals and grassroots athletes can access the kind of facilities and expertise that were once only available in big cities. This center would feature:
A fully equipped S&C gym
Physiotherapy and rehab spaces
Ice bath and recovery rooms
Sports massage therapists
A nutrition café
And a team trained in sports science and mental performance
“We already have the talent,” he says. “Now we need the support system.”
If Manish could design the perfect facility, it wouldn’t just be about the equipment. It would be a place where athletes feel supported holistically — not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too.
A training ecosystem where performance, recovery, mindset, and community coexist — giving every athlete the chance to reach their highest potential.
Changing the Game — One Athlete at a Time
Since stepping into Goa’s football landscape, Manish has seen a tangible shift. Players are investing in strength work. Clubs are open to recovery protocols. Data is informing decisions. And most importantly, the next generation is hungrier, smarter, and more focused.
His ultimate goal?
“To see Goa recognized as a hub for athlete development — where footballers from across India come not just for the love of the game, but for the quality of training and support.”
With professionals like Manish Malik leading the charge, that future feels not just possible — but inevitable.
