Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk
Academy of Combat Sports Goa (ACS-Goa) has reiterated its vision of building the future of Indian Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by focusing on youth development, excellence, and long-term athlete growth. With athletes achieving the highest honours at both national and international levels, ACS-Goa stands as the only academy in India to hold such consistent top-tier achievements in Jiu-Jitsu.
Erica is now actively contributing to this mission by helping shape the next generation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athletes under the expert guidance of her coach. With clarity of purpose and unwavering commitment, she aims to inspire more children and teenagers to step onto the mats, embrace discipline, and pursue excellence through the sport of Jiu-Jitsu.
ACS-Goa continues to emphasise that world-class grapplers can be developed right here in Goa with the right values, professional training, and competitive exposure. The academy is now focused on nurturing more Tiny Grapplers, providing them with a strong foundation that allows them to confidently represent Goa at the national level and India on the global stage.
The initiative goes beyond training alone, positioning itself as a movement dedicated to shaping character, discipline, and sporting excellence. Through its structured approach and proven track record, ACS-Goa remains committed to building the future of Indian Jiu-Jitsu while inspiring the next generation to rise and lead on the world stage.
Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk
The Third Sonics All-Goa Under-17 Basketball League concluded in style at Youth Hostel, Miramar, as Don Bosco Oratory Panjim and Sonics emerged as the Boys’ and Girls’ Champions respectively. The finals delivered a perfect blend of athleticism, teamwork, and sportsmanship, drawing an enthusiastic crowd of supporters and showcasing the best of Goa’s rising basketball talent.
In the boys’ championship clash, Don Bosco Oratory Panjim displayed superior composure and coordination to outplay Don Bosco Fatorda 50–42 in a thrilling contest. Leading from the front, Avner Mendonca’s brilliant 25-point performance earned him the Finals MVP title, cementing his place as one of Goa’s most exciting young players. Don Bosco Fatorda’s David Xavier put up a valiant fight, scoring 13 points and keeping the game competitive until the final minutes.
The girls’ final saw Sonics deliver a disciplined and strategic display of basketball, overcoming Don Bosco Fatorda 28–18 to secure the championship. The standout performer was Kim DSouza, whose 12 points and leadership on both ends of the court earned her the Girls’ Division MVP award.
Loyola captured third place in the boys’ division with a narrow 27–22 win over Sonics, with Richie of Loyola making a strong impression throughout the tournament. Other notable young stars included Sean Fernandes of Don Bosco Fatorda and Daniel Rodrigues of Sonics, who drew plenty of cheers for their skillful all-round performances.
Despite minor scheduling adjustments due to unexpected rains, the league maintained high energy and enthusiasm across its 35 matches. Organized by Sonics Basketball Club under the aegis of the Goa Basketball Association, the event once again highlighted the growing strength of Goa’s youth basketball community. The successful completion of the Third Sonics All-Goa U17 League was celebrated with medals, cheers, and memories that promise an even brighter future for the sport in the state.
The 4th edition of the Vedanta U-16 Youth Cup officially kicked off on 21st October 2025 in Goa, welcoming elite youth football teams from across India. Organised by the Sesa Football Academy (SFA), the tournament represents a crucial platform for identifying and nurturing young footballing talent at the grassroots level.
This year’s edition features eight high-performing teams: AIFF Talent Academy, Cortalim Villagers, Bengaluru FC, Dempo SC, Muthoot FA, Sesa FA, FC Goa, and Belgaum United Football Academy. These teams will compete across three venues — SFA’s Sirsaim Campus, Vagator Ground, and FC Goa Guirim Ground — as they battle it out for the prestigious title.
The tournament follows a pool format with two groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each pool will qualify for the semi-finals, set for 27th October at SFA Sirsaim, with the grand finale scheduled for 29th October at Duler Ground. Defending champions Muthoot Football Academy are back in the fray and are expected to present a strong challenge.
The opening day saw thrilling action as AIFF Talent Academy dominated Dempo SC with a commanding 4-1 win. Bengaluru FC launched their campaign with an emphatic 9-0 victory over Cortalim Villagers. In another close match, Sesa FA edged past Belgaum United 2-1. The result of the Muthoot FA vs FC Goa clash was pending at the time of publication.
As Indian football continues to demand more robust player pipelines and structured developmental competitions, the Vedanta U-16 Youth Cup serves as a vital cog in this larger ecosystem. Supported by the Goa Football Association (GFA) and Goa Football Development Council (GFDC), the tournament aligns with key priorities such as grassroots scouting, community participation, and long-term fan engagement.
The cup also holds special significance for Sesa Football Academy, which has been investing in local talent since 1999. Leena Verenkar, Head of SCDF & CSR at Sesa Goa, emphasized that the tournament reflects the academy’s commitment to developing players from Goa’s rural and mining belts. “SFA has since 1999 been focussing on nurturing homegrown talent from the rural and mining belts of Goa. It has been a vessel for developing and nurturing the rich legacy of Goan and National football.”
Technical Director of SFA, Gavin Araujo, highlighted the tournament’s value as a high-stakes developmental opportunity for young players. “It’s a superb platform that provides the right impetus to the young footballers and gives them the much-needed edge in terms of honing skills and sharpening key attributes including mental robustness.”
The tournament also marks another successful step for SFA as a dependable organiser of national-level competitions. After hosting I-League 3 and IWL 2 matches, the academy continues to grow as a hub of football excellence, helping pave the way for India’s next generation of players. The Vedanta U-16 Youth Cup is not just a competition — it’s a launchpad for dreams.
The Shenoi Goembab Storytelling Competition, one of Goa’s largest and most awaited educational events, is back with its 24th edition this 2nd August 2025. Spearheaded by Konkani Bhasha Mandal (KBM), Goa, and supported by the Directorate of Official Language, Government of Goa, this competition celebrates the timeless tradition of storytelling through the lens of the Konkani language.
Over the years, the competition has grown remarkably in participation and scale. This year, it will be conducted across 19 centers in Goa, including all 12 talukas and extended centers in Shiroda, Cuncolim, Bardez, Margao, Tiswadi, and Ponda. Some schools from Salcete and Quepem are merged with the Cuncolim center due to overwhelming participation.
The storytelling contest is open to students from Classes 1 to 10, divided into three categories:
1st–4th Std: 2–4 minutes
5th–7th Std: 3–5 minutes
8th–10th Std: 4–6 minutes
Participants are free to choose their story themes, and additional winners will be selected in centers with high participation to ensure broader representation.
More than 160 judges and 300 volunteers will be actively engaged in conducting this state-wide literary celebration, reflecting the immense popularity and cultural importance of this event.
This year’s refreshment partner, Monginis, joins hands with KBM to support young minds on their creative journey.
The storytelling competition is not just about winning prizes—it is about fostering language fluency, imagination, and confidence among young students in Goa.
Interested schools and participants can reach out to:
📞 Ulhas Goankar (Coordinator): 9923765741
📞 Gaurang Bhandiye (Co-Coordinator): 8552883808
“Through stories, we preserve culture. Through storytelling, we shape the future.”
For more updates, follow @kbmgoaofficial and @dirlang_goa on social media.
MARGAO: Margao Congress leader Chirag Naik emphasised the importance of managing anger, anxiety, and arrogance in life while addressing children at an Anger Management Workshop held on Sunday in Margao.
The workshop, conducted by Anisha Kapdi in association with the Chirag Datta Naik Initiative, was organised for children aged 7 to 14 years.
“There are three A’s — Anger, Anxiety and Arrogance — and it is very important to keep them in control,” Naik said, urging Anisha to conduct more such sessions focusing on these areas.
The two-hour workshop focused on teaching children healthy ways to recognise and manage their anger. Naik congratulated Kapdi for organising the successful event.
Speaking on the occasion, Anisha Kapdi highlighted the need to guide young minds during their formative years.
“It is very normal and natural for anyone to feel anger. It has to be expressed in a healthy way, otherwise it suffocates a person. We focused on helping the children learn how to handle anger without hurting themselves or others. They were taught five practical skills — relaxation, distraction, movement, physical release, communication and thinking — to stay calm and manage anger effectively,” she said.
