Candolim was called the cradle of beautiful soccer about a hundred years back when it produced some of the finest players, two of them are still in my mind, namely the gigantic forward Dioginho Vaz from Pintos Vaddo and the other Luciano from Dando, a powerful defender. Candolim is yet to produce such greats. The elders never received the sophisticated training and yet they played sophisticated soccer with sophisticated foot-work and artistry. Those elders did not develop their soccer skill in any football academy nor under the majestic Coaches like Cesar Mennoti from Argentina who helped Argentina to win the World Cup for the first time or Germany's mighty Franz Backenbeur but they developed on their own. However, now we are having in Candolim a Foot-ball Academy which is newly established with the best of newly done foot-ball ground by the local Panchayat by spending a huge amount of money.
Dr. Gustavo Monteiro Stadium
Ricardo Cardoso is the son of Eugeno Cardoso once an ace Candolim goalkeeper who also donned the colours of Dempo Sports Club and Goa XI too and who following the footsteps of his father inherited the best of soccer skills of his father who also was a custodian; in this capacity Ricardo donned the colours of Culcutta’s giants Mohun Bhagan, Goa’s mighty Churchill Bros., Bengaluru and etc. Leaving the Calcutta giants Mohun Bhagan this year, he came back to his roots in Goa and initiated a new coaching programme known as “SUPER 30 SOCCER SCHOOL” and started Football Academy where currently he is training in Candolim for about 100 boys devided into 3 segments, namely: 1) 6 - 12 years; 2) 13 - 14 years; and 3) 15 -17 years.
Coaching in progress
There are about 6 coaches and assistant coaches including Physio Therapy Doctor and they are all headed by the Head Coach Ricardo Cardoso who has devised the new concept of training soccer to young foot-ballers according to the modern soccer techniques.
Currently, the training is conducted thrice a week at Dr. Gustavo Monteiro Stadium in Candolim in the evenings at 4.00 PM under the watchful eyes of all the Trainers who give personal attention to every trainee with much assistance and attention. These youngsters are taught all the basics required to become stalwart in this game. Each training session lasts 1.30 hour.
Training in progress
It is great to see so many mothers and fathers of young footballers joyfully accompanying their young sons to the football ground in Candolim with much interest in seeing their sons becoming good foot-ballers. With this interest in the beautiful game of soccer even the unity among the villagers is increased, thanks to this Academy and its initiator the son of Candolim Ricardo Cardoso.
Dr. Nikita Miranda - Physio
Ricardo Cardoso is now running this soccer camp in collaboration with the local Panchayat and local MLA/Minister Michael Lobo. According to the information, Sarpanch Fermino and ex Sarpanch Blazio along with Minister Michael Lobo there is much interest generated into this Academy and its coaching system. The head coach Ricardo Cardoso speaking to this writer indicated his total satisfaction with both the Panchayat stalwarts and also with the Minister Lobo for their enthusiasm they indicated in this coaching system.
Let us hope now that Candolim will produce great footballers as it has done in the past.
A.Veronica Fernandes.