Football Players Association of India, in collaboration with Dempo Sports Club, hosted the AC Milan Grassroots Football Coaching Program at the Dempo Football Academy in Goa. The initiative, supported by Optimax Aces, Events Unlimited, Bhaichung Bhutia, and the Embassy of Italy, marks a significant milestone in promoting grassroots football and fostering India-Italy sporting co-operation.
As part of the pilot program launched by FPAI, six centres across India were identified to promote grassroots development, with Goa chosen as a focal hub for football excellence. The week-long coaching session, held from October 13 to 17, 2025, featured expert training led by AC Milan coaches Annachiara Teboni and Luca Vaccari, who mentored young footballers and coaches from Dempo Sports Club’s academy.
The closing ceremony, held at the Dempo Football Academy, was graced by Walter Ferrara, Consul General of Italy in Mumbai; Goa Football Association president Dr. Caitano Fernandes, Kapil Kumria (Optimax Aces), Arindam Bhattacharya (Mentor during the coaching program); in the presence of Shrinivas Dempo, President of Dempo Sports Club, Yatish Dempo, Managing Director, veteran administrator Alberto Colaco; and Dronacharya awardee Armando Colaco, who was felicitated on the occasion .
Shrinivas Dempo expressed his gratitude and vision for the collaboration: “We are indeed fortunate to have the Football Academy. And over the last week or 10 days, we have had the expertise of a couple of coaches from AC Milan, which all of you know is one of the world’s most sought-after clubs. India and Italy are two important nations, and they are both sporting nations.
“However, Italy, in football, is one of the pioneering countries in the game of football. And through grassroot development, through training of coaches, through training of young minds, if we could find a way to develop a program between these two nations, so that India benefits a lot in terms of facing international competition in football. I think today was one such event, and I am very glad to note that today was the culmination of the last one week of hard work, where we acknowledged the services of the coaches, of the players, of the supporting staff.”
“And one more special event that we had today was to congratulate our ex-coach, Armando Colaco, who has won the prestigious Dronacharya Award this year. It was befitting of the club to acknowledge his services and to express our gratitude for having his leadership in the club being one of the best-known clubs and the most respected clubs in the country.”
In his address, Armando, who masterminded Dempo SC’s most successful reign in Indian football with 5 top-flight league titles, dedicated his Dronacharya award to Shrinivas Dempo and Alberto Colaco.
The closing ceremony also included acknowledgments to the AC Milan coaching delegation and all partners who contributed to the success of the initiative. The young footballers and coaches staff were presented certificates. This programme reinforces Dempo Sports Club’s ongoing commitment to nurturing football talent in Goa and India and to creating opportunities for young players to learn from the best in world football.
