OLD GOA : The inaugural KOFS Kids Football Cup, hosted by Kick Off Football Schools (KOFS), turned out to be a grand success, bringing together over 400 people in a vibrant celebration of youth football. The event, which saw 28 teams from across Goa participate in four age categories (U8, U10, U12, and U15), was held at the Sunshine Worldwide School turf in Old Goa, and showcased the growing passion for the sport among young footballers.
KOFS, with its three centers across the state at St Cruz DSYA Ground, Gera River of Joy, and Sunshine Worldwide School, continues to set new benchmarks in developing grassroots football talent. This mega event was a testament to their vision of nurturing young footballers and providing them with a platform to showcase their skills.
The tournament featured an electric atmosphere with over 400 attendees, including young players, coaches, match officials, and enthusiastic parents. The venue was bustling with energy, complemented by food stalls, game booths, and a drinks counter that kept the crowd entertained throughout the day. The event was graced by prominent guests, each of whom lent their support and admiration for KOFS’ efforts in developing youth football in Goa.
Chief Guest, Rajesh Faldessai, MLA of the Cumbarjua constituency, praised KOFS for organizing a remarkable tournament and expressed his delight that it was being held in his constituency. “I extend my support for KOFS’ future endeavors and hope that one day, a player from this tournament would go on to represent the Indian national football team or play in the Indian Super League (ISL),”said Rajesh.
Guest of Honour, Rajeev Singh, Administrator at Sunshine Worldwide School, commended KOFS for raising the bar in promoting football among young players in Goa. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between organizations and assured Sunshine Worldwide School’s continued support for KOFS’ initiatives. He also praised the turnout of around 300 young footballers, marking the tournament as an outstanding success.
Special Invitee, Armando Alvares Ferreira, social worker and Aldona Youth Congress member, congratulated the winners and participants of the tournament. He extended a special invitation to KOFS to consider establishing a center in Aldona, further expanding the reach of football development in Goa and supporting more children in the region.
Special invitee, DYSP Jivba Dalvi congratulated all the winners and participants for showcasing their passion and talent. “Thank you, Kick Off Football Schools and Andrea, for organizing this commendable tournament for young footballers. Your hard work is evident, and I assure my support for such initiatives. Best wishes for continued success in nurturing future football stars,” said Dalvi.
The competition was intense, with talented young athletes showcasing their skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship. The winners and key awardees in each age category were: In the U8 category, Ace Soccer Academy emerged as the winners, with United FA taking the runner-up spot. Nirbhay of United FA was awarded Best Player, while Cayden of Ace Soccer Academy claimed the Best Defender award. In the U10 category, FC Goa Football Schools took home the winner’s trophy, while Salgaocar secured the runner-up position. The Best Player award went to Jose from Salgaocar, and Kian of FC Goa Football Schools was named Best Goalkeeper. The U12 category saw Siddeshwar as the winners, with Ace Soccer Academy finishing as runners-up. Ojas of Ace Soccer Academy was named Best Player, while Pandurang of Siddeshwar was awarded Best Goalkeeper. In the U15 category, Siddeshwar emerged as winners, with Sunshine Worldwide School finishing as runners-up. Ezra from Sunshine was named Best Player, while Soham of Siddeshwar received the Best Goalkeeper award.
Jonas Fernandes, Head Coach at KOFS, expressed his heartfelt congratulations to all winners and participants. He thanked the coaches, sponsors, parents, and everyone involved in making the tournament a success. He also acknowledged the crucial role played by his sister, Andrea Fernandes, in establishing KOFS and leading the charge in grassroots football development. Jonas is already looking forward to the next edition of the KOFS Kids Football Cup.
MC Jessica Sharma did a fantastic job of keeping the audience engaged, creating a welcoming atmosphere, and ensuring the event ran smoothly while honoring the dignitaries.
Andrea Fernandes, Founder of KOFS, shared her gratitude to all those who contributed to the success of the tournament. She expressed thanks to the sponsors, dignitaries, coaches, parents, students, and the KOFS team for their support. With the first edition of the KOFS Kids Football Cup a resounding success, Andrea remains committed to developing young football talent and organizing more such events in the future.