Sesa Football Academy’s Senior Women’s Team Crowned Champions at Vedanta Women’s League
Sesa Football Academy’s (SFA) Senior Women’s Team has been crowned Champions of the 8th Vedanta Women’s League (VWL), marking their maiden title victory in only their second season, post their debut in 2023. The #SFALionesses dominated the league, maintaining an all-win record and showcasing exceptional attacking and defensive prowess, scoring 47 goals while conceding only 4.
The final match saw SFA face Livvals SC in a thrilling contest, where the #SFALionesses triumphed with a 5-2 victory, sealing their championship run in style. The team’s consistency and determination throughout the season firmly established them as a dominant force in women’s football in Goa.
The league culminated in a grand prize distribution ceremony, attended by esteemed dignitaries, including Mr. Alexio Lourenco, Hon’ble MLA for Curtorim Constituency, Dr. Caitano Fernandes, President – Goa Football Association (GFA), Ms. Maymol Rocky, Chairperson – GFA Women’s Committee, Mr. Antonio Pango, Vice-President – GFA, along with senior officials from Vedanta Sesa Goa.
Mr. Alexio Lourenco, Hon’ble MLA, Curtorim Constituency, said:
“The outstanding performance of Sesa Football Academy’s Senior Women’s Team in the 8th Vedanta Women’s League is truly commendable. Their remarkable journey to the championship showcases their dedication, resilience, and passion for the sport. Vedanta’s initiative in fostering women’s football has significantly contributed to the growth of the game in Goa, and I congratulate the entire team for this historic achievement.”
SFA’s championship campaign was powered by outstanding team performances and individual brilliance.
- Arpita Pednekar was adjudged ‘Player of the Match’ for her crucial contribution in the final.
- Sushmita Jadhav, Captain of the team, was honored as ‘Player of the Tournament’ for her leadership and consistency.
- Ashika Gadekar was named ‘Best Goalkeeper’, recognizing her exceptional performances between the posts.
The six participating teams in the 8th Vedanta Women’s League were Sesa Football Academy, Livvals SC, Calangute Association, Maina SC, Patrong SC, and Guardian Angels, with Livvals SC bagging the runner-up spot & Calangute Association securing the third position.
Expressing his sentiments on the occasion, Dr. Caitano Fernandes, President-GFA said “The Vedanta Women’s League has been a game-changer for women’s football in Goa, and signifies Vedanta’s unwavering commitment to #TransformingSports. Their efforts, in collaboration with the Goa Football Association, have not only strengthened women’s football but also inspired more young girls to take up the sport in Goa. We look forward to the VWL growing bigger & being a catalyst for success for women footballers in the years to come.”
Now in its eighth edition, the Vedanta Women’s League has played a pivotal role in elevating women’s football in Goa to national standards. Cumulatively over 1,400 aspiring players have participated in the league since its inception, with many going on to represent Goa and India. The league continues to be a catalyst for young talent, inspiring the next generation of women footballers to dream big and reach new heights.
Mr. Navin Jaju, CEO, Sesa Goa stated, “Congratulations #SFALionesses! Sesa Football Academy Senior Women’s Team are Champions at the 8th Vedanta Women’s League! Spectacularly winning the prestigious title with n ‘all win’ record. The Vedanta Women’s League continues to be the ‘League of Dreams’ nurturing the aspirations of many a young girl!”
Ms. Leena Verenkar, Head – CSR, Vedanta Sesa Goa, said:
“The success of our #SFALionesses in the 8th Vedanta Women’s League is a moment of immense pride for us. At Vedanta Sesa Goa, we are deeply committed to nurturing young talent and providing platforms that enable them to shine. The Vedanta Women’s League has been instrumental in empowering aspiring women footballers and strengthening the sports ecosystem in Goa. We will continue to support initiatives that drive excellence in sports and inspire future generations.”
The 8th Vedanta Women’s League has once again reinforced its role as a game-changer for women’s football in Goa, providing a competitive platform for emerging talent and fostering a culture of excellence in the sport. With their maiden championship victory, the #SFALionesses have not only etched their name in the league’s history but have also set a new benchmark for aspiring footballers. As the league continues to grow, it will undoubtedly inspire more young women to pursue their passion for football and elevate Goa’s stature in Indian women’s 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.