Tag: grassroots football Goa

Sports

SFA & GFDC Partner to Boost U-12 Girls’ Football in Goa

rencygomes02

Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral 

Mayem, Goa: Sesa Football Academy (SFA), in partnership with the Goa Football Development Council (GFDC), inaugurated the Sesa–GFDC Under-12 Girls’ Football Tournament at Mayem Ground, marking a significant step in strengthening grassroots football for young girls in the state.


The tournament, which commenced on January 29, 2026, has brought together over 300 young girls representing teams from across North and South Goa. It stands as one of the largest structured grassroots initiatives dedicated exclusively to girls’ football in Goa.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Premendra Shet, MLA for Maem Constituency, as Chief Guest, along with Glenn Ticlo, Chairman, GFDC; Fransquinha Oliveira, Member Secretary, GFDC; Kunda Vishnu Mandrekar, ZP Member;  Vishant Pednekar, Sarpanch, V.P Maem; Seema Sanjay Arondekar, Panch Member, V.P Maem;  Nitin Gaddi, Council Member, GFDC; and executives from Vedanta Sesa Goa.

Addressing the gathering, Premendra Shet emphasised the importance of balancing academics and sports in a child’s holistic development. He commended SFA and GFDC for creating a structured platform that enables young girls to pursue sporting excellence alongside their education.

The participating teams have been divided into four zones.

Zone 1 (North): Arambol, Pernem, Mandrem, Tuem, Aldona, Poira

Zone 2 (North): Mayem, Sanquelim, Zarme, Valpoi, Savoiverem, Dona Paula

Zone 3 (South): Dabal, Cortalim, Sao Jose De Areal, Navelim, Seraulim

Zone 4 (South): Quepem, Uguem, Ambelim, Devabhag

Glenn Ticlo, Chairman, GFDC, reiterated the council’s commitment to strengthening grassroots football and highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts to raise the standard of the sport in the state. He acknowledged the support of Dr. Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa, and Ramesh Tawadkar, Minister for Sports, in promoting football development.

Speaking on behalf of Vedanta Sesa Goa, Leena Verenkar, Head – CSR & SCDF, stated that sports serve as a powerful enabler of social progress and individual transformation. She noted that the tournament not only provides competitive exposure but also promotes fitness and strengthens women’s football in Goa.

Member Secretary Fransquinha Oliveira described grassroots football as the backbone of Goan football and thanked Vedanta Sesa Goa and stakeholders for their continued support.

Hosting the event was a matter of pride for the Maem panchayat, said Sarpanch Vishant Pednekar, who appreciated the organisers for promoting structured sporting engagement for young girls.

Sesa Football Academy, with over 26 years of contribution to Goan football, has produced more than 230 footballers through its residential programme, including 14 players who have represented India internationally. Through its various initiatives, over 8,000 aspiring footballers have been provided platforms to showcase their talent.

The Sesa–GFDC U-12 Girls’ Tournament reflects a growing commitment to empowering young girls in sports and strengthening the future of women’s football in Goa.

Sports

Maina SC Cruise Past Verna with 3-0 Win in Benaulim Villagers Cup Clash

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo

Benaulim, Goa – Maina Sports Club put on a commanding display to beat United Club of Verna 3-0 at the St John the Baptist ground, advancing confidently to the next round of the Benaulim Villagers Cup on Thursday.

The game kicked off with Maina SC immediately setting the pace. In just the 8th minute, Frazer Fernandes opened the scoring with a cool finish, giving Maina the early lead and establishing their control over the match.

Verna attempted to find rhythm in the second half, but Maina’s defensive unit held strong. Goalkeeper Prakash Joshi was particularly impressive, producing a string of key saves to deny Verna any momentum.

Maina doubled their lead through Jovel Martins in the 32nd minute, who slotted home the second goal with composure before halftime. Despite Verna’s efforts to respond, including some fine saves by their keeper Samuel Miranda, they struggled to keep up with Maina’s attacking fluidity.

Joywin Carneiro added speed and flair throughout the game, stretching the Verna defense repeatedly with his pace and movement.

In the closing stages of the match, it was Frazer Fernandes again who sealed the result, scoring his second goal of the night and securing a comprehensive 3-0 victory for Maina SC.

With this performance, Maina SC has made a strong statement in the tournament, blending solid defense with sharp attacking play. All eyes will be on them as they prepare for the next round.