GOA-L CUP V

SPORTS GOA: GOAN SPORTS FAN'S FAVOURITE

Mapusa boy’s were crowned champions after defeating Saligao boy’s 3-2 via the tie breaker in the finals of the 5th edition of the GOA-L Cup organized by the Goa Learning Soccer School at Saraswat grounds, on Sunday evening. After the match ended goalless the hosts Mapusa boy’s, held their nerve to snatch victory from the spot.

The winning team comprised of Captain Omkar Shinkre, Raj Thali, Dattaraj Lanjekar, Sairaj Tupsundar and Sandesh Kumbar.

Vice President of Saraswat Vidyala High School, Khorlim, Pradip Joshi was the chief guest and distributed the prizes. Sandesh Kumber was adjudged Player of the tournament; Pranav Dhavaskar was awarded the most improved player and Sankalp Shinde received a prize for the best designed football kit. The parents of the youngsters also participated in a special tie-breaker competition.

The tournament brought an end to the month long summer football coaching camp organized by the Goa Learning Soccer School (GOA-L), where 40 boys in the U-12 and U-14 category participated in learning the fundamentals of football in a fun environment, conducted by English FA qualified football coach Aldrid Da Costa.

FIRST APPEARED IN HERALD ON 1ST MAY 2012.

CHURCHILL BROTHERS FINISH TOP

SPORTS GOA: GOAN SPORTS FAN'S FAVOURITE!

After going down 1-5 in their opening match to Dempo sports club in the U-20 I-league preliminary round, Churchill Brothers Sports Club managed to fight their way back into contention to finish on six points and qualify in top spot after consecutive wins against Sporting Clube de Goa 2-1 and Salgaocar Sports Club 1-0.

“In the first game we were leading 1-0 against Dempo until the last twenty minutes when we conceded five goals. I sat down with the boy’s and told them the mistakes they were making defensively which I am happy we fixed in time,” remarked Churchill manager Willie Moraes.

Willie felt that his young side was playing too many short passes at the back and wanted possession to be controlled in their opponents half instead. He also switched from man to man marking to zonal marking which paid dividends.

Having made special trips to watch his opponents play during the Taca Goa U-20 tournament last month he then sat down with coach Alfred Fernandes and devised strategies to overcome them.

“I am really proud the way my player’s motivated themselves for victory. After defeating Sporting Clube they felt they could go on and win against Salgaocar to top the group, even though a draw would have been sufficient to qualify,” stated Willie.

Last year the age group tournament was held as a U-19 competition, where Churchill represented Goa in the final round after topping the initial round. In Kolkotta they did not do so well, losing all three of their group matches 0-2 to eventual winners JCT, 3-4 to East Bengal and 1-4 to Mumbai football club, but this year are hoping to make a greater impact.

“The tournament last year was played in June during the monsoons on a muddy waterlogged pitch, which made it virtually impossible to string passes together,” reasoned Willie.

Another factor which seriously crippled Churchill’s chances was the new footballs, which they were handed the evening before the first game. “The ball’s they used over there were very bouncy and needed time to get used to,” said Willie.

The same balls were used in this season’s preliminary competition and Willie found that the longer they trained with the balls they slowly got accustomed to them.

The final round is scheduled to take place between the 6-19 May at Kalyani, West Bengal and Willie cannot wait for the tournament to get underway, although he is happy to have nearly three weeks to prepare.

“Last year Severino Fernandes was the coach and he did a brilliant job. Watching him in action, I have become very motivated and I believe this set of boy’s can achieve something special and keep the Churchill Brothers flag flying high,” signed of Willie.

FIRST PUBLISHED IN HERALD ON APRIL 28TH 2012.

BFA FOR REVOLUTIONING FOOTBALL IN GOA

SPORTS GOA: GOAN SPORTS FAN'S FAVOURITE!

Having gone about his work seemingly unnoticed away from the media glare for the past seven months in Goa, Brasil Futebol Academia CEO Glauco Moraes has been quietly studying Indian football at close quarters and planning for the future development of the academy to take it to even greater heights.
“In Brazil, the play is built up from the back, with wing backs regularly overlapping to put in dangerous crosses. When not in possession, Brazilian teams close down a lot quicker,” remarked Glauco.

BFA was started in 2009 by two Brazilian footballers who are no strangers to Indian football. Churchill Brothers midfielder Roberto Mendes Da Silva aka “Beto” and Mohun Bagan striker Jose Ramirez Barretto enlisted the administrative support of the former GFA general secretary Savio Messias to get their dream project on the road and Savio instantly obliged.

BFA are now in the process of yet another giant leap forward. By luring the services of the former Gremio Youth development manager they not only have an expert on supervising the coaches on the training ground, but also in the board room taking care of the other side of football which is not normally seen, such as player negotiations.
Glauco explains  that the BFA has created two products. One is the academy which has trials to pick up talent, while the other is soccer classes for the younger age groups who can be absorbed into the Academy if they make the grade later.

Glauco started coaching at the ripe young age of twenty six. After suffering a serious knee injury which cut short his playing career, he headed back to college to pursue a degree in physical education. His first assignment was with Internacional which lasted about a month, before he started his sixteen year journey with the other big club in the south of Brazil, Gremio.

Gremio are famous for churning out the two-time Fifa world player of the year Ronaldinho, but Glauco is very modest about his role in his development. “Ronadinho joined the club at seven and was already fifteen by the time I arrived on the scene, although I have spent a considerable amount of time with Liverpool’s Lucas and Manchester United’s Anderson” remarked Glauco.

So are these multi million pound player’s who command staggering fees, natural born footballers or moulded by the academies? Glauco fires back, “Academies offer a structured programme which enhance the player’s strengths and highlight weakness, but the player’s who make it to the top are largely products of their own DNA as Brazil has a large exotic genetic mix.”

Glauco further enlightens, “In the olden day’s players were climbing tree’s and playing in large areas, but as playing fields are converted into plush storey high mansions academies play a larger a role in grooming the talent by introducing them to games such as futsal and physical training for agility.  
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When talking about the coaching syllabus, Glauco points to BFA’s Coach cum manager Rafael Von Muhlen who joined the academy at the same time as Glauco and is responsible for setting the tasks for the eight grass roots coaches to follow.

“In football, a goal can be scored in an instant so our method is to encourage spontaneous and imaginative play rather than set specific targets,” reasoned Rafael summing up the Brazilian way of play.

written by ALDRID DA COSTA
FIRST PUBLISHED IN HERALD ON APRIL 23RD 2012.

FOOTBALL ANNOUNCED AS GOA STATE SPORT!

Announcing football as the state sport of Goa was a fantastic move by the government, but know it's up to the stakeholders to take on the baton and work in synergy for the betterment of GOAN FOOTBALL.

 Having a "SMART" goal which is specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and executed within a given time frame would be a great start. For example, creating the pathway for a Goan footballer to be plying his trade in the Japanese league within ten years, who would be seen as a role model.

Increasing participation among the younger age group  and involving the parents in weekend youth leagues, will help build a wider talent pool.

Having certified grassroots coaches in each village who are working in a culture of continuous improvement and meeting regularly to stay updated with the latest changes is important.

Gifted youngsters getting  picked by professional scouts for advanced scientific training at their academies are like diamonds waiting to be cut while this process creates a conveyor belt momentum.

In short, a successful footballer needs to have (1) the basic fundamental skills; (2) training to improve strength, stamina and speed, (3) the ability to read the game and finally (4) it is guts and determination which will carry him across the finish line.


By Aldrid Da Costa
Founder of the GOA Learning Soccer School (GOA-L)


FIRST APPEARED IN "MY GOA" MAGAZINE ON APRIL 15TH 2012.

NEW GENERATION TURF AT DULER!

If God made grass and man created artificial turf, which one would you choose? This topic has been argued the world over, but on Thursday the GFA’s very own Duler stadium in Mapusa was the latest ground in India to undergo the makeover towards the new 3rd generation surface, courtesy of FIFA’s ‘win in India with India’ programme.
GFA vice president Lavinio Rebello surveyed the start made by the contractors less than 24 hours after the work had begun and looked pretty impressed with the progress.
The contract to install the turf was awarded to Greenfield Sports turf systems by FIFA only recently and they have already completed grounds in Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata.
The man in charge of the India operation Deepak Khanolkar described in detail the stages for laying the turf which included leveling off the ground using the survey station, removal of grass and the double back up drainage which comprised of under soil and sufficient ground slopes. “The turf has a life span of 7-10 years, depending on how well it is maintained and we will give the necessary education to the grounds men to ensure maximum care is taken with the ground,” reasoned Deepak.
The current dimensions of the Duler ground are 111 metres in length by 71 metres in width, but Deepak mentioned that the size would be reduced to 105m by 65m for the safety of the players. The new dimensions would still qualify as capable of hosting an International match as FIFA guidelines specify between 100-110m for the touch line and between 64-75m for the goal line.
Deepak described the Duler ground of having roughly 95% compactness in regards to point of impact, due to it already being used regularly as a football pitch and it being rolled annually. In comparison to sand based ground in Kerala which has only 30% compactness he said his company would have to do a lot more in regards to locking the surface in place with a stronger foundation before they lay the turf.
Deepak’s main concern was once the ground was complete that the stray dogs were kept away from the ground as they could damage it, but Lavinio said that the GFA executive committee would sit down together and resolve how to take care of the problem.
Lavinio explained that the work should be finished by the end of May and would be ready for the new season, “Usually the Goan Football calendar is always hampered at the start due to the heavy monsoons with some matches having to be postponed due to the waterlogged ground, but this should not be the case once the new turf is laid,” reasoned Lavinio.

FIRST PUBLISHED IN HERALD ON 2ND MARCH 2012.