panjim… 14/09/2015 … Sporting Clube de Goa came from behind to trounce Curtorim Gymkhana 5-1 in Gfa’s Goa Pro League at Duler Stadium, Mapusa, on Monday. The match was tied 1-1 at halftime.

Curtorim took the lead on the stroke of half time when Hanslyn Furtado converted a penalty, after Sporting Goa defender Clemente Joseph was adjudged to have brought down former Sporting Goa winger Xavier Dias inside the box.

The lead did not last long as Odafa Okolie promptly equalized for the Flaming Oranje after receiving a pass from substitute Ganesh Thakur.

After the resumption, Sporting Goa’s Ganesh got his name on the score sheet after receiving a neat through ball from Odafa.

Midway through the second half, Sporting Goa’s Franzil Negredo hit a beautiful volley into the back of the net to make it 3-1 after connecting onto Cajetan Fernandes’ tempting corner.

Deep into injury time, Sporting Goa’s Glan Martins set up Odafa who completed his brace when he delicately scooped over the goalkeeper and then Ganesh also netted his second of the game after another well executed pass from Glan.

23/08/2015 …. : Defending Champions of the Goa Professional league Salgaocar FC overcame Sporting Clube de Goa, winners of the GFA knock-out tournament to win the season opener, the GFA Champions Trophy Charity Match to claim their first piece of silverware for the season. The all-important goal of the match was scored in the 44^th minute by Aslon Oliveira.

 With both teams having chosen to field young sides, the game seldom rose to any heights. Salgaocar dominated the early exchanges but lacked delivery or penetration in the final third. James Fernandes had a left foot crack at goal early in the game for the Greens, the ball however sailing narrowly wide. Whilst still inside the first quarter, there was sufficient pressure on the diminutive Aslon Oliveira to ensure his header lacked power and direction from a fine cross by Salgaocar’s skipper on the day, Gilbert Oliveira.

 Thereafter the ball was mostly confined to the midfield with neither side able to create any clear cut chances. It was around the 25^th minute that Gilbert found his way past his marker in the box and laid off for Varinder Singh who blasted over from close range. Salgaocar’s new Scottish recruit made his debut as he was brought on in the 34^th minute to replace a bruised Umesh Harijan, that came about as a result of a clash of heads with a Sporting defender.

 With the introduction of Martin, the game seemed to come to life and certainly got a lot more physical, with a number of yellow cards being flashed to players of either side. At the stroke of half time, Brian Mascarenhas stepped up to take a free-kick for the Greens 25 yards out. His wicked curling free-kick seemed to be headed for the top corner but the Sporting keeper did brilliantly to get a hand on it and parry it onto the underside of the bar. However, as the ball came back into play, Aslon Oliveira flung himself at it, to score the goal that eventually proved to be the decider.

 Sporting did come out all guns blazing in the second half in search of the equaliser and almost found the back of the net in the 79^th minute when an inch perfect cross from the left by Jovel Martins saw Marcus Mascarenhas’ thundering header come off the crossbar and sail harmlessly out.

 However, the Greens held on for the remaining 11 minutes to clinch their first piece of silverware for the season. Mr. Peter Vaz, President, Sporting Clube de Goa handed over the Winners’ trophy to Salgaocar FC captain, Gilbert Oliveira and Mr. Shivanand V. Salgaocar, President, Salgaocar FC handed over the Runners Up trophy to the Sporting skipper, Rowlin Borges. Mr. Elvis Gomes, President, GFA was in attendance at the game and the prize distribution ceremony.

22/08/2015 …. Mapusa : On the eve of the season opener, the GFA Champions Trophy Charity Match against Sporting Clube de Goa, Salgaocar FC players looked lively and sharp as they were put through the paces at the Duler Stadium by Head coach Malcolm Thomson. Since taking over, the Scottish gaffer has made a few re-enforcements to the squad to fill the void left by several key players who will be plying their trade in the second edition of the ISL and will therefore be unavailable for the Goa Professional League.  

 Salgaocar FC went through the league unbeaten last season and finished on pole position having amassed 33 points, 9 points clear of Runners up Tuff Laxmi Prasad SC. They will now look to repeat that performance as the league format takes on a new avatar. Over the past few years, the top 5 and bottom 5 would compete in 2 separate groups, namely the Championship and Relegation pools respectively once the first round of 9 matches were done. This year however, the league will be played on a double leg format, resulting in 18 games per side as opposed to the 13 last year. The league is expected to culminate around the end of December.

 “We have a fairly youthful side, and hopefully some of the youngsters will make a mark and earn a place in the side that shall compete in the I-League”, remarked Malcolm. Experience however comes in the form of long serving captain Rocus Lamare who will be in his 12^th season at the club, Saran Singh, and Gilbert Oliveira. “No one can deny the importance of winning titles in football. However, it is equally important to be able to develop and produce players for the future. Finding a balance between the two is what we will strive to achieve at the club through the course of the season”, he added.

 The Goa Pro League regulations permit the registration of 4 foreigners, with a maximum of 2 taking the field at any given point. Salgaocar have currently filled 2 of those positions by extending the contract of Darryl Duffy, who is in his third season at the club and roping in Scottish medio Martin Scott. The rules also require every club to register a minimum of 4 U-20 players with at least 2 being fielded in the starting 11 and playing out a total of 90 minutes between them. The Salgaocar FC U-20 side that performed commendably and punched above their weight to make the finals of the 13^th Goa Police Cup only recently, has in it’s ranks several talented players and the club have wisely chosen to promote 4 youngsters to the Senior team as opposed to looking elsewhere.

 Whilst the first round of matches will all be played at Duler, the league will then be played at 3 other venues through the course of the second phase, with all of Salgaocar FC’s home games scheduled to be played at Raia. The Greens undoubtedly go into the league as one of the favourites and it would take a brave man to bet against them retaining the crown.

29/07/2015 … GOA CRICKET ASSOCIATION:

In the Managing Committee Meeting held on 25^th July’ 2015 at GCA Conference Hall, Porvorim, the following committees were appointed for the season 2015-2016.

SENIOR SELECTION COMMITTEE

UNDER-25 SELECTION COMMITTEE

UNDER-23 SELECTION COMMITTEE

UNDER-19 SELECTION COMMITTEE

UNDER-16 SELECTION COMMITTEE

UNDER-14 SELECTION COMMITTEE

WOMEN (SENIOR/JUNIOR)

GPL COMMITTEE

GROUNDS COMMITTEE

TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE

UMPIRES COMMITTEE

PRESS/MEDIA COMMITTEE

FINANCE COMMITTEE

DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE

NETS/COACHING COMMITTEE

Panaji: July 28, 2015  ….. The Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, invites applications through the Voluntary organizations/Educational Institutions/NGOs from the deserving and eligible Youth’s /Voluntary Youth Organizations, undertaking Voluntary Services for the Welfare of the Youth and backward communities for the presentation of the State Youth Award 2014-15.

 The applications duly filled with Bio Data, Credentials, Certificate of achievements in Youth work etc.  should be submitted, in person to the office of the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, Campal, Panaji on or before   August 17, 2015 by 5.00 p.m. latest.

 The rules and conditions for eligibility inclusive of the specimen of the application form have been uploaded on the official website of the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs www.dsya.goa.gov.in. Interested youth may download the same or alternatively, a hard copy of the specimen of the application could also be obtained from the Youth Section of the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs at Campal, Panaji-Goa during office hours on any working day.

 Application received after due date will be not entertained.

18/07/2015 … Goa cricket association are in talks to rope in former international cricketer hrishikesh kanitkar along with former Indian international ajay ratra to be the goa under 19 ranji team coach …

Addressing media persons after the first general managing committee meeting of the newly elected members of goa cricket association gca president chetan dessai said that

gca was looking out for a new flavour for the gca ranji team and therefore had decided to have talks with mr kanitkar to be roped in as the new gca coach

Mr dessai said that the gca clubs would in all together get a grant of 3 lakhs each comprising both of last year and this year grants …

Mr dessai also stated that it was sad that the gca academy has been closed for unknown reasons and would try to reopen it as soon as possible …

panaji … 09/07/2015 …. The GFDC Arambol Football Development centre marked its 1st Anniversary with great celebrations which included inter centre tournament for all the trainees at Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School ground, Arambol.

Speaking on the occasion Goa Football Development Council Chairman Dr. Rufino Monteiro praised the trainees who won the U- 10 category of the Vodafone- GFDC Rising Stars Football Festival Title and for reaching the semi-finals in the U- 13 category.

He further encouraged continuing training and playing to achieve more titles and rested the challenge to the coaches Dietmar, Jason and Ansesao. He urged parents to continue sending and supporting their kids as it is scientifically proved that children who play perform better in studies too.

Among the dignitaries present were Shantaram Naik, Council Member GFDC, Fr. Pio Almeida, Fr. Anancio Desouza, Francis Mendonsa, Jeronimo Fernandes and Tony D’Mello.

30/06/2015 … After a series of inspections by fifa team and commitments by the state government of goa, the state of goa has been formally awarded provisional selection as a venue for the fifa under 17 world cup 2017 …

tournament director javier ceppi handed over the provisional letter to sports minister ramesh tawadkar in the presence of gsidc chairman dr pramod sawant, executive director of sports sandip Jacques and other government officials

Mr ceppi also handed over the provision certificate to the sports minister of having selected goa to host the afc under 16 football tournament next year

Goa joins kolkota, navi Mumbai, guwahati, delhi and kochi as venues provisionally selected by fifa for the under 17 world cup football tournament …

Since goa being given the provisional selection for the fifa under 17 world cup india 2017 it means that it it would be now in goa and its government hand to comply with all the requirements to be ratified as a venue after the fifa inspection of September 2016 one year before the football tournament

26/06/2015 …. Salgaocar FC are delighted to announce the signing of Scottish gaffer, Malcolm Thomson, fondly known as Malky, as their new Head coach for the upcoming season.

Malky brings to the table a wealth of coaching experience having worked with clubs such as Celtic, Rangers, Blackpool FC, Birmingham City, Limerick, Dundee United and Inverness.

Speaking about his appointment, the 48-year old remarked, “I am looking to build on the great work that Salgaocar FC has done in the past. I am looking forward to coming over soon and adding value to the coaches, players and staff at the club. I have read and been told that Salgaocar FC is one of the most professional teams in India with a long history.”

“I am really looking forward to the challenge. India is a developing football nation and it should be a very exciting challenge,’ he added.

“I do know Darryl Duffy who is playing at Salgaocar FC and he has said only good things about the club,’ he concluded.

Coincidentally Malky has worked in Asia previously having had a stint with Al Ahli in Dubai and is looking to return to the continent`.

Salgaocar FC General Secretary, Mr. Adlear D’Cruz welcoming the Scot remarked, “We are delighted to have someone with Malky’s experience join us and we wish him a successful tenure at the club.”

“Malky will add so much to what we are trying to do here at Salgaocar FC,” he added.

Last year, the club worked systematically towards following a philosophy that extended from the senior team all the way down to the juniors. The U-19s played several pre-season friendlies against the senior team and the results were there for all to see with Salgaocar FC having made a near clean sweep of the State Association (GFA) titles, having won 5 of the 7 trophies on offer across the senior and junior teams, in addition to claiming the Durand Cup that was played on Goan soil for the first time in it’s prestigious 127 year history.

Malky is expected to arrive in Goa by mid-July to take over the reins from Derrick Pereira whose 2-year contract at the club ended this summer.

Panaji: May 7,2015 … The Chief Minister Shri Laxmikant Parsekar has said that, investment on girl child yields good result. A society which upholds women dignity and respect is a prosperous and developed society. Therefore he said it is for all of us to introspect about decline  in male and female sex ratio.   

Shri Parsekar was speaking after launching State wide Campaign “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” at a function held in the city today. The function was organized by The Directorate Women and Child Development.

Shri Parsekar further speaking said that we have to strive to arrest inhuman practices of gender detection. The welfare and empowerment of society will not be complete without the welfare and empowerment of women. Therefore Government is committed to the development and welfare of women and has implemented various schemes like Laadli Laxmi or Gruha Aadhar and other schemes for their education as well. He hoped for participation of community in large for the grand success of this campaign.   

Minister for Women and Child Development Shri Dilip Parulekar in his address said that Government is concerned about the empowerment and safety of girl child and therefore has implemented scheme like Laadli Laxmi, Gruha Aadhar etc. He appealed to the people to cooperate with the Government for the grand success of this campaign in the state he added and complimented the Department for successful organization of the function .

Chief Secretary Shri R.K. Srivastav while speaking at the function said that decline in the sex ratio can hamper social balance therefore balance of sex ration of male and female is very important. Although the sex ratio is quite satisfactory in Goa yet we have to strive to improve a lot in this regard. He called for suggestions from persons, organizations NGOs  working in this sector for the success of this campaign.    

Smt. Neela Mohanan, Collector North Goa in her welcome address briefing about the campaign “Beti bachao Beti Padhao” informed that, it is the initiative of the Central Government which is launched in 100 districts all over the country has threefold purpose, to stop gender discrimination,  to stop prenatal sex detection, Universalization of ICDS and Providing Safe atmosphere for girl child. 

Shri V.N. Shetye Director DRDA North, Smt. Sunita Sawant Dy. Superintendent of Police North Goa, Shri Swapnil Naik Addl. Collector North, Shri Jaykumar Vernekar Asst.AO Directorate of Women and Child Development  and members of various NGOs working in this sector attended the function.

Smt. Akshata Bhat compered the function. Smt. Deepali Naik Director Women and Child Development proposed the vote of thanks.