A nine-day summer football camp organised by Kick Off Football Schools in collaboration with PACT Foundation and supported by A.A. de Moira Club commenced in Moira on Friday.
The camp, which runs from May 1 to May 10, is being conducted free of cost for children from the Aldona constituency as part of a sports education and youth empowerment initiative funded by PACT Foundation.
Present at the inaugural event were Guest of Honour Anisha Fernandes, benefactor of PACT Foundation; Oscar Lobo, president of A.A. de Moira Club; Marc Cordeiro, member of the club; Shriya Shetgaunkar, dietician at Manipal Hospital Goa; Andrea Fernandes, founder of Kick Off Football Schools; and Jonas Fernandes, head coach of Kick Off Football Schools.
Addressing the participants, Anisha Fernandes emphasised the cultural significance of football in Goa and the need to preserve and promote it among younger generations.
“This camp is very important to us. PACT Foundation is built on a very simple idea that every child deserves a fair shot no matter where you come from, no matter your background. Your future should be defined by your effort, your passion and your opportunities, and that’s exactly what this camp is about,” she said.
Highlighting the accessibility of the initiative, she added, “It’s in our culture, our communities and our stories. And it’s something worth protecting and passing on to all of you. That’s why this camp is completely free, because talent should never be limited by circumstance. Every single one of you deserves to be here.”
She also underlined the broader learning outcomes beyond sport. “You are going to learn how to play football, how to pass, defend, and score those amazing goals. But more importantly, you are going to learn how to show up every single day; you are going to learn discipline, teamwork and resilience because waking up early, pushing yourself and supporting your teammates is what really shapes you, not just into better players but into stronger, more confident people, and that is the real goal,” she said.
Oscar Lobo thanked PACT Foundation for supporting the initiative and encouraged children to participate consistently. “We would like you to make it a point to attend regularly so that you get maximum benefit from these sessions, but most of all we want you to enjoy yourself playing the game,” he said.
As part of the programme, Shriya Shetgaunkar conducted a session on nutrition, sharing guidance on how proper dietary habits can improve physical development and sports performance among children.
PACT Foundation, founded by Dr Ashwin Fernandes, works on education, youth empowerment and community development initiatives in Goa. Through projects such as the Happy School Project, scholarships and grassroots partnerships, the foundation aims to create opportunities for children and promote inclusive development across communities.
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