SHIFTING THE GOAL POSTS

The Indian football story is one of paradoxes—in which optimism and pessimism coexist. From the distant dream of one day playing in the World Cup, to how clubs are trying to foster grass-roots talent, Lounge takes an indepth look at the state of the game

- Arun Janardhan

It's organised cacophony at this football ground, where at least five matches are being held simultaneously among different children's age groups. The St. Anthony's ground at Monte de Guirim in north Goa is a lush football turf today, but remnants of its stony, dirt past are visible on the neighbouring hillock that's been sliced vertically, like a slab of hard cheese.

On this ground, developed by the non-profit Forca Goa Foundation, and opened about a year ago, children are jostling each other on a December afternoon. Among the players is a little girl who is more interested in the audience of about 50-odd people than in the football that bounces past her on several occasions. The referee, in a moment of sporting-albeit unconventional-benevolence, halts the game and shows the girl how to kick. Parents participate with varying degrees of enthusiasm: some laze on the grass, others stand on the edge of the pitch and shout instructions. "Send the ball long men, why you passing short, short." The Forca Goa Foundation is the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of FC Goa, the Indian Super League (ISL) team that's currently undefeated and among the top of the standings after 12 matches this season. The foundation also launched the Little Gaurs League (LGL), a state-level grass-roots league for children, around five years ago.

With four centres currently in the tiny state-and with two more to come-the league runs for a cost of about 150 lakh, conducts about 700 matches a year, and has approximately 1,600 children participating through 150 teams.

"When we created the LGL for under-8 and under-10 in two zones, north and south Goa, we had about 350 children participating. Only four girls played (in the mixed teams) because the coaches wanted to win," says Forca's head of grass-roots development, Nathaniel da Costa. In 2020, LGL started under-6, under-8, under-10 and a separate under-12 girls' category.