Coaching Standards Set to Receive a Boosts with SFA Support
Vedanta Sesa Goa’s flagship CSR Initiative, Sesa Football Academy (SFA) partnered All India Football Federation (AIFF) & Goa Football Association, in organising the AIFF ‘D’ License Course at its Sirsaim campus. This five-day coaching programme marked a significant step in the professional development of aspiring football coaches, offering them the foundational skills and knowledge required to embark on their coaching careers.
The program which was formally inaugurated by Ms. Leena Verenkar, Head of CSR,Sesa Goa, was a five-day course, structured to provide both theoretical and practical training, equipping participants with the skills and coaching nuances essential for launching careers in football coaching. This year’s batch comprised 24 participants, from across India. The nominated trainer for the batch was Mr Gavin Araujo, Technical Director, SFA and a certified AIFF Pro-Licence coach himself.
The ‘D’ License is the first step toward attaining coaching certification & is the introductory coaching certification offered by the AIFF. It is specifically designed to upskill coaches with the basic knowledge, skills, and understanding required to coach young footballers, typically at the grassroots level.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Leena Verenkar, Head-SCDF & CSR, Vedanta Sesa Goa stated “The AIFF ‘D’ License Course provides a strong foundation for those who aspire to contribute to the developing football in India & to conduct coaching in a structured manner. We at Sesa Football Academy are honored to facilitate this program and play a part in shaping the future of football coaching in India.We have previously also been associated with this initiative and this is in line with our objective of aiding & supporting grass roots football.”
Expressing his sentiments on the occasion, Mr. Gavin Araujo, Technical Director, SFA, said “At Sesa Football Academy, we are committed to nurturing the future of Indian football by empowering aspiring coaches with the knowledge and skills they need to excel. Hosting the AIFF ‘D’ License Course is a testament to our dedication to fostering football talent at the grassroots level, and we are proud to support the participants as they take their first step towards becoming certified coaches.”
The course was open to participants from across India. It offered an invaluable opportunity for any individual with a passion for football to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to begin coaching, irrespective of their prior involvement in the sport.The sessions conducted will benefit Indian football through sharing of best practices and development of precise coaching skills.
Mr. Winston, from Tamil Nadu, who opted for the AIFF ‘D’ License Course at SFA stated “It was a great learning experience at the Sesa Football Academy through the five day course as its also helped me bond with people from all across the country. The staff at SFA took good care of us & attended to the smallest of our needs. The coaching faculty paid attention to the smallest of details and provided us with key insights in the world of coaching. They patiently answered all our queries. I feel more confident now, to venture into the world of coaching.”
By facilitating the AIFF ‘D’ License Course, Sesa Football Academy reaffirms its dedication to advancing football coaching standards across India. This initiative not only enabled participants with the tools to inspire the next generation of footballers but also strengthens the foundation of grassroots football in the country. As these aspiring coaches embark on their journey, SFA remains committed to supporting their growth, fostering a brighter future for Indian football.
About Vedanta Cares
Vedanta is committed to reinvest in the social good of its neighbourhood communities and the nation. The Group’s flagship CSR project, Nand Ghar, is a network of model anganwadis where the thrust is on inclusive development of women and children at the grassroots level. The Group CSR initiative comprises of seven key verticals – Education, Healthcare, Water and Sanitation, Sustainable Livelihood, Skilling, Sports & Culture and Employee Volunteering. Vedanta Foundation, a philanthropic initiative of Vedanta Group is focused on skill development and vocational training programmes for the underprivileged to make them employable. A key healthcare speciality CSR project is the Balco Medical Center, a 200-bed state-of-the-art Cancer care hospital located in New Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The company supports grassroots level sports through their Football academies in Goa and Udaipur.
About Vedanta Limited
Vedanta Limited, a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Limited, is one of the world’s leading Oil & Gas and Metals company with significant operations in Oil & Gas, Zinc, Lead, Silver, Copper, Iron Ore, Steel, and Aluminium & Power across India, South Africa, Namibia, and Australia. For two decades, Vedanta has been contributing to India’s growth story, currently contributing 1 percent of India’s GDP. The company is among the top private sector contributors to the exchequer with the highest ever contribution of INR 42,560 Crore in FY 2019. Governance and sustainable development are at the core of Vedanta's strategy, with a strong focus on health, safety, and environment and on enhancing the lives of local communities. The company has been conferred the CII-ITC Sustainability Award, the FICCI CSR Award, Dun & Bradstreet Awards in Metals & Mining, and certified as a Great Place to Work. Vedanta Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange in India and has ADRs listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
About SESA Football Academy
An initiative of SESA Community Development Foundation (SCDF), SESA Football Academy (SFA) was founded in 1999 for the holistic development of the local youths through football. The academy has created the conditions for discovering, creating and building talent for football. SFA does not restrict itself to football trainings but involves in a long term residential program which takes care of the formal education, skill development of the trainees during the four-year training period.
The academy has a strong focus on women empowerment through football. Since inception, SFA has trained around 200 footballers and has made tremendous impact on the football fraternity in Goa as well as across India. The graduates from SFA are serving in the national teams, Indian Super League (ISL), I-League clubs of India and clubs in Goa. 7 players have earned the national team cap and several players played the elite ISL.