Sesa Football Academy To Close Due To Lack Of Funds?

The center that harnessed football talent going to close gates?

The Sesa Football Academy (SFA)-the first football academy in Goa- finds itself in a stay open or shut case.  With mining activities having ceased, a financial crunch is forcing the it’s closure. This is its fate now.  Academy officials are now looking to the government for financial assistance. And, time is running out. Literally.

“The decision to stop is going to be painful to us. This is due to no fault of ours. Things have been tough after the Supreme Court decision to stop mining. We are trying to hold on to everyone but, there is a limit we can do,” stated A.N Joshi, Vice president Corporate affairs, Vedanta Ltd, in an exclusive chat with The Goan.

 The Sesa senior team has been withdrawn from Goa Football Association (GFA) Professional League and no more recruits have been taken in the academy this year. In a way , the phasing out process has begun.

A N Joshi offers seeds of hope in these turbulent financial days the company is seeing saying, “We normally select boys every alternate years, since the boys were selected last year, there was no selection this year,” said Joshi while still expecting the government to come to the aid of the academy.

“Yes, talks are going on with the Goa football Development Council (GFDC). They have reach to youngsters and so we have approached them. We are in talks with them and we are sure something will work out. Let us not jeopardise the process,” stated Joshi when prodded on the nature of the talks.

 “Tenders have been advertised by GFDC to start their academies already. I do not know whether Sesa Goa will respond but as of now we (GFDC) are thinking of SVD fathers in Raia and Monte de Guirim. Our Technical Director has been asked to go. So , I don’t know which way the wind is blowing,” stated a senior member of GFDC  on condition of confidentiality.

Former international goalkeeper and Arjuna awardee Brahmanand Shankwalkar who liaises for Sesa FA and is a council member of GFDC had this to say: “We were asked to make a presentations and the same was done by former manager Cyril Rodrigues. I do not know the status now.”

“GFDC has not had council meetings for ages. There was talk of starting an academy in Guirim and Raia but Sesa FA was never discussed. It does not look possible,” stated GFDC council member Savio  Messias.

Till date, 109 students have passed out  from Sesa FA ,of which, 82 trainees have played for professional and or senior division clubs in and out of Goa. Thirty five boys played for I-League clubs and 19 players presently play for I-league clubs.  Thirty players have represented Goa, three players have represented India junior team and four players have represented India.  The sale of one player to European Club I FK Teplice in the Czech Republic, is the tallest and most distinct achievement.