Young footballers across Goa are set to showcase their talent as the Goa Football Development Council (GFDC) prepares to organise its Inter-Centre Grassroots Football Tournament 2026 from November 17 to 22. The six-day competition aims to provide young players with valuable match experience, encourage participation in football and strengthen the state's grassroots football development programme.
The GFDC recently unveiled the official trophies, tournament logo and jerseys for the competition, marking the build-up to the much-awaited event. The tournament will feature three categories: Under-10 Boys, Under-13 Boys and Under-13 Girls. By including both boys' and girls' divisions, the competition will offer young footballers from different GFDC centres an opportunity to compete and demonstrate their abilities.
Matches Across North and South Goa
The tournament will be conducted at two venues to ensure participation from football development centres across the state. Matches in North Goa will take place at the DSYA Quitla-Aldona Ground, while the DSYA Cuncolim Ground will host fixtures in South Goa.
The competition will conclude with the finals at Atal Stadium, St Cruz. The winners from the North and South Goa regions will face each other in the respective final contests to determine the tournament champions. This format is expected to bring together the strongest-performing teams from both regions and provide an exciting conclusion to the grassroots competition.
Focus on Young Footballing Talent
GFDC Chairman Glenn Souza Ticlo highlighted the importance of the tournament as a platform for young footballers to demonstrate their abilities and gain competitive experience. He emphasised that the council's objective goes beyond developing football skills, with equal importance given to shaping children as individuals.
According to Ticlo, such competitions create opportunities for children to develop confidence, understand the demands of competitive football and learn valuable lessons through participation. Regular exposure to matches also helps young players assess their strengths, identify areas for improvement and gain experience playing against children from other centres.
GFDC Member Secretary Deepesh Priolkar described the Inter-Centre Grassroots Tournament as an integral part of the council's football development initiative. He noted that the competition allows trainees to interact and compete with players from different centres while learning important values such as teamwork, discipline and sportsmanship.
Building a Stronger Grassroots Football Structure
Goa has a strong football culture, and structured grassroots programmes play an important role in identifying and nurturing young talent. Through its network of development centres, GFDC works to provide children with access to football coaching and opportunities to progress in the sport.
The council's broader vision is to establish a structured pathway through which promising young players can move from grassroots training towards higher-level competitive football. Inter-centre competitions are an important part of this process, allowing coaches to observe players in match situations and assess their development.
GFDC Vice-Chairman Dhaku Madkaikar and council members Nitin Ghaddi, Valerian Rodrigues and Sandeep Naik were also present during the trophy, logo and jersey unveiling ceremony.
With six days of competition scheduled across North and South Goa, the Inter-Centre Grassroots Football Tournament 2026 is expected to provide an important platform for emerging talent. Beyond the results and trophies, the event aims to encourage greater participation, promote discipline and strengthen the foundations of football among Goa's younger generation.