Sporting Clube de Goa conducted its 2^nd Grassroots Football Festival day at DSYA Grounds, Curtorim.  Having conducted the 1^st Festival in the North in September 2014, this Festival was targeted at the kids from the South of Goa.  These Festivals are organized as part of the Club’s Community Outreach Program and commitment to grassroots football development.

The Festival was attended by 170 plus kids who were divided into groups. They had nearly four hours of fun with the ball as they went through a grid of 14 stations. As the music pumped out from the large speakers, the boys rhythmically moved from one drill to the next with big smiles on their little face’s as they passed, dribbled, headed and shot depending on the specific technique needed for the particular game.

The Festival was coordinated by SCG Head of Youth Development Mahesh Lotlikar. He was assisted by Coaches -- Norbert Gonsalves, Seby Noronha, Anthony Vas and the School PE Teachers Vaibhav Raut, Jayesh Dessai, Kartik Lokapure and Santano Furtado, along with a host of volunteers.

Arnaldo Costa,  Member GFA Executive, Chairman of St. Xavier’s Institute Managing Committee and President of Curtorrim Gymkhana  was the Chief Guest and distributed certificates along with  local  Sporting Goa stars Jovel Martins, Rowllin Borges, Mauvin Borges, Velito Cruz and Cajetan Fernandes who had  turned up to cheer and inspire the young wards.

The following 13 Schools from South Goa took part in the Festival: St Xavier’s Institute H/S Curtorim, Our Lady of Snow’s H/S Raia, Bethany Convent H/S Sao Jose de Areal, Our Lady of Carmel H/S Curtorim, St Joseph Educational Institute H/S Chandor, The King’s H/S Margao, St Rita’s H/S Maina, Our Lady of Health H/S Cuncolim, St Francis Xavier H/S Macasana, Our Lady of Rosary H/S Fatorda, Assumpta Convent H/S Sarzora, St Xavier’s High School Velim and Pope John Paul XXIII Quepem.

(Report and Picture -- courtesy: Sporting Clube de Goa)