Goa's U-14 team leaves for Portugal

Panaji, June 4 (UNI) Goa's under-14 football team, led by medio Jesvil D'Souza, today left for Portugal to participate in an internatinal football championship in Lisbon.

As part of its ongoing youth development programme, the Goa Football Association (GFA) has deputed the team on a tour of Sri Lanka and Portugal.

The 17-day visit will include one match in Colombo, a training camp in Guimarace and participation in a tournament in Pontinha.

During their stay in Portugal, the team will also play against the corresponding youth teams of leading professsional clubs like Vitoria de Guimares SC and Boavista FC.

The squad presents a balance look with the cream of Goan under-14 football talent making it to the final selection of 19 from a pool of 22 youth footballers. They were chosen over various selection trials and training camps under the eye of coach Francisco Bruto Da Costa, assisted by Portugal returned Lino Pereira, Socoro Vaz and goalkeeping coach Virender Singh.

GFA secretary Savio Messias said ''It is for the first time that GFA is sendig an age group (U-14) football team to a foreign country to participate in a competition. It will be a great exposure to aspiring footballers as it comes at a time when the knowledgeable in the Indian football, including the AIFF, are propagating for exposure of Indian talent abroad.'' Team: (Goalkeepers) Adney Fernandes, Shilton Fernandes, Ricardo Cardozo.

(Defenders) Jesmon Carvalho, Elroy D'Silva, Shane Temudo, Meldon D Silva, Joel Menezes Gama, Fernnando Colaco.

(Midfielders) Enfal Vaz, Michael Silva, Lyndon Pereira, Jesvil D' Souza (C), Brandon Fernandes, Philino Ratos.

(Strikers) Hasten D'Costa, Myron Fernandes, Billu Chavan, Pandhari Chopdekar.

Jovito Lopes (head of delegation) and Sanjiv Nagvekar (manager) will also accompany the team.

UNI