The playfield at Don Bosco, Panjim literally turned Flaming Oranje last Sunday. It was a pleasant sight indeed, to behold over two hundred exuberant children aged between 9 to 11 divided into groups, all decked in the SCG colors playing a circuit of games which apart from Small Sided Games included games of fun and skill.

The Grassroots Festival was declared open by Rev. Fr. Evan Carvalho Principal of Don Bosco High School, Panjim, in the presence of Arjuna Award winner Mr. Bruno Coutinho and a host of SCG stars which included the likes of Boima Karpeh and Ravi Kumar.

Bruno Coutinho in fact had a dual role, as apart from being an iconic and inspirational figure for the kids, he was also a proud father escorting his son, at the festival. Is it the making of another Bruno Coutinho?

SCG President Peter Vaz was all smiles as he noted the impressive response to the Grassroots Festival and made it a point, along with Bruno Coutinho, to personally shake hands and distribute the Participation Certificates, to each individual kid. Shaking hands with these two titans of Indian football was the highlight for the participating kids who went home with this cherished memory and a Flaming Oranje jersey.

The festival drew kids from Bethesda Life Centre, Santa Cruz and Margaret Don Bosco Bal Sadan, Uccasaim apart from schools like Auxilliam (Caranzalem), Santo Minguel (Taleigao), Chubby Cheeks (Pilerne), Sacred Heart (Anjuna), St Clara’s (Assonora), St Ann’s (Tivim),St Joseph’s (Calangute), St Britto’s (Mapusa), Rosary (Miramar), Don Bosco(Panjim), Sharda Mandir (Miramar) and Mustifund (Panjim).

The half day Festival was conducted by SCG Head of Youth Development Mahesh Lotlikar assisted by coaches Javier Cabreras, Norbert Gonsalves, Alex Alvares, Seby Noronha and Anthony Vaz, under the overall supervision of SCG General Secretary Edward Noronha Competitions Director Angelo Albuquerque and CEO Victor Fernandes. The team of volunteers was drawn from the Junior ranks of SCG. Elaborate arrangements were made for water points, breakfast and lunch for all the participants.

This is the first of the season’s Grassroots Festivals planned by SCG with the objective of broadening up the base of its Football Devlopment Pyramid. The next Grassroots Festival is planned for South Goa on November 16.

Apart from the Football Development angle, these festivals are also part of SCG Community Development Program which aims at reaching out to the community around and especially the under privileged as seen by the presence at the Festival, of 30 children from Bethesda Life Centre, Santa Cruz and Margaret Don Bosco Bal Sadan, Uccassaim.