Residential Football Academy for underprivileged girls inaugurated in Nuvem, Goa
The Karuna Football Foundation's Residential Football Academy for underprivileged girls in Goa was inaugurated on Sunday at the Holy Rosary Convent High School complex. The academy was inaugurated in the presence of Vasant Prabhudesai, Executive Director, Goa Sports Authority, Brahmanand Shankhawalkar, President, Goa Football Development Board (GFDC), Arjuna Award winner, Savio Madera, National Technical Director, All India Football Federation.
The main objective of the academy is to empower and inspire young girls from rural areas through football. The academy currently has 14 girls from Goa, five girls from Manipur, three from Tamil Nadu and one each from Kerala and Maharashtra.
At the inauguration of the academy, former Goan players Yolanda D'Souza, Juliana Gurjav-Culaso, Sucorina Pereira, Ritinha Pereira, Maria Rebello were also honoured for their immense contribution to the sport. Prabhudesai assured that the state government would co-operate to provide the best trainers, physiotherapists, dietitians to the Karuna Pratishthan's academy, as well as to provide training opportunities on the artificial turf ground at Fatorda.
Heidi Scheunemann, a UEFA licensee from Germany, has been appointed technical director of the girls' football academy. Mario Aguirre is the head coach of the academy. Maria Rebello and Naomi Vase are the assistant coaches.
These girls will train at the SVD ground in Rai while completing their education at the Holy Rosary Convent High School.