SFA Organises AFC ‘C’ License Course for Coaches from Across India
Sesa Football Academy (SFA), the flagship CSR initiative of Vedanta Sesa Goa, successfully concluded the AFC ‘C’ License Course aimed at providing structured training know-how to aspiring coaches from across India. This is the fourth such course conducted by SFA since 2024 with 80+ individuals having gone through the curriculum.
The 12-day intensive programme focused on enhancing coaching capabilities through a blend of theoretical learning and practical training sessions, aimed at strengthening the grassroots football ecosystem in the country. In addition, SFA also hosted an AIFF Refresher Course, with 23 participants undergoing both practical and theory sessions under the guidance of Gavin Araujo.
During the course, Mr Vivek Nagul, Head of Coach Education at All India Football Federation (AIFF), visited SFA to witness the sessions and interact with participants and instructors. Sharing his thoughts, Mr Vivek Nagul said, “It is encouraging to see institutions like Sesa Football Academy consistently contributing to coach education in India. Structured programmes such as the AFC ‘C’ License Course play a crucial role in developing technically sound and progressive coaches. The enthusiasm and commitment displayed by the participants reflect the growing focus on raising coaching standards across the country.”
The course was conducted under the guidance of experienced instructors Mr Gavin Araujo, Technical Director-SFA and Mr Antonio Prestly Pereira, Assistant Instructor, All India Football Federation, ensuring a comprehensive learning experience for all candidates.
Speaking on the successful completion of the course, Mr Gavin Araujo said, “The AFC ‘C’ License Course plays a vital role in shaping the next generation of coaches by building strong technical foundations and a deeper understanding of the game. At Sesa Football Academy, our focus remains on creating a structured learning environment that not only develops coaching competence but also contributes meaningfully to the growth of grassroots football in India.”
Echoing similar sentiments, Antonio Prestly Pereira added, “Coach education is a continuous journey, and programmes like the AFC ‘C’ License Course are essential in equipping coaches with the right methodology and perspective. It was encouraging to see participants actively engage and apply their learnings on the field. Such initiatives play a key role in raising the overall standard of coaching and strengthening the football ecosystem in the country.”
In addition, SFA also hosted an AIFF Refresher Course conducted by Reliance Foundation, with 23 participants undergoing both practical and theory sessions under the guidance of Gavin Araujo.
SFA has consistently contributed to coach education in Indian football, having previously conducted AFC ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’ License Courses, further reinforcing its commitment to developing a strong and sustainable football ecosystem & continues to play a pivotal role in contributing meaningfully to the growth of football in India.
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.