BOGMALO: Sports Authority of Goa Executive Director, V M Prabhudesai has expressed confidence that beach soccer will help in blending sports with tourism. On the sidelines of the GFA Goa Beach Soccer ‘grassroots festival’ organised by Singh Sports Ventures, with the fourth event in the series of 10 held at Bogmalo beach on Sunday; Prabhudesai was thrilled with the concerted push to beach football for the first time in Goa.
“As the pandemic is now on the wane, the plan to take beach football to 100 beaches will become active. In the past, a joint meeting with tourism department, SAG and Singh Sports Ventures had unanimously agreed on the role beach football can play in providing locals as well as tourists a chance to play the game regularly. This will also enable us to make strong beach football teams in Goa. Fortunately, Sports Minister Babu Azgaonkar is also the tourism minister and understands the importance of beach football,” said the Margao-based veteran sports administrator, who in his own engaging way encouraged the participating youngsters.
GFA executive committee members Francisco Nunes and Adlear D’Cruz were delighted with the result of encouraging participation at all venues so far. Finally our beaches are being used for sports and not just tourism, remarked Nunes. D’Cruz emphasised that beach soccer was part of the GFA calendar in the past and has now got off to a good start with grassroots category. In the future may be we can have teams from other states participating and it will be a regular event.
Goa Beach Soccer grassroots festival is supported by Sports Authority of Goa, Super 30, Play Goa and Coco-Leni eyewear. ‘Live News Goa’ digital infotainment channel is the exclusive media partner.
