Panaji
The fourth edition of GFDC Rising Stars Inter Centre League will conclude on April 30 after the finals at Athletic Stadium, Bambolim.
The league commenced on November 22 with over 4,000 budding footballers aged under-13 vying for top honours. In the course of time, 100 matches were conducted at the intra-centre phase (league) and 120 inter-centre matches with 91 teams across the 38 grassroots centres. The finals will be held from 3 pm to 6 pm.
Dr Rufino Monteiro, Chairman of GFDC, expressed pleasure over the success of the inter-centre tournaments and the intensity and level of participation from trainees witnessed this year.
“Compared to the previous editions of this tournament, this year’s tournament was much larger and more keenly contested across the 38 GFDC grassroots centres spread across the length and breadth of our State, showcasing plenty of widespread good talent which should bring good cheer to all Goan football lovers,” Monteiro said.
Talking about league, Monteiro added: “This year we included the best seven teams of FC Goa grassroots programme in the last 16 stage of the tournament in the U-10 and U-13 boys groups and all our GFDC teams advanced to the final stage, bearing testimony to the good standard of GFDC grassroots programme. The best talent seen in the tournament will be noted for further development,” he said.
The Member Secretary of GFDC, Aleixo Da Costa revealed that the league this year was kept open for the teams from FC Goa grassroots centres in the knock-out stage so that the GFDC rising stars could display their footballing skills and unlock their full potential.
“GFDC is organising its 4th edition of Rising Stars Inter Centre League which has grown in coverage. This year we have provided an enhanced competitive environment for our trainees to compete with the very best in the state,” he said.
“We will get to watch GFDC talent displaying among the best fundamental movements blended with individual skill and team combination play focusing on player development which is at the forefront of our inter centre football tournament,” stated the Technical In-charge of GFDC, Derryl D’Souza.
GFDC’s 38 centres were divided into nine zones wherein the teams played against each other to find a place in the knock-out stage. The top team from each zone in each category made it to the knock-out stage.
The U-10 and U-13 boy’s category of the knock-out stage saw the participation of seven FC Goa grassroots teams and nine teams from GFDC in each category, respectively. For the first time, GFDC grassroots and FC Goa grassroots teams were tested on a common platform.
Two FC Goa teams -- FC Goa North 2 (Duler and Guirim) and FC Goa South 2 (Chandor and Assumpta) -- managed to make it to the semi-finals in the U-13 and U-10 boys category. The finalist teams will now battle it out for the coveted title.
GFDC Rising Stars Inter Centre League finals matchup: U-10 boys - GFDC Benaulim and GFDC Arambol; U-13 boys - GFDC Khandepar and GFDC Mandrem; U-13 girls - GFDC Dona Paula and GFDC Collem.
