A Review by Gasper Crasto
I was honored to be invited to watch a football coaching session over the weekend at a local academy, and to share my thoughts to the wannabe Messis and Ronaldos.
Football Falcons Academy, located at Kuwait’s Salmiya area, one of the most popular areas for Indians, and particularly Goans - is an upcoming training platform to nurture young kids.
The immersive football programs conducted on Thursdays and Fridays by a young team of coaches emphasizes on player skills, techniques, and tactics, transforming the passion of each kid towards the game.
The young players get holistic guidance thanks to the initiative of young, budding Goan Shawn Rodrigues, hailing from Utorda, Goa, who first started coaching the kids in his building compound back in Dec 2020 during Covid time.
Today, Football Falcons is a full-fledged Academy shifted to SRF (opp Don Bosco School), Block 10, Salmiya and boasting of 40 regular players under the age group of 14 years.
COACHES LIVING THE GAME
The young coaches comprise of Shawn Rodrigues, Elvies Joseph (Mumbai), Saif Mukadam (Mumbai), Miss Luka Fernandes (Asst. Coach/Treasurer – from Taleigao), and Sahil Mukadam (Asst. Coach/Social Media Coordinator – from Mumbai).
The trainers are sure to enrich lives of the players, not just teach them to play.
This is exactly what I observed at the Academy, and this is what is required for the young kids growing forward – make them strong physically and mentally.
Miss Luka, am told, has been the backbone of the academy, talking to parents, collecting fees, paying remunerations, notifying everyone and looking after the logistics.
REASONABLE FEES
Football Falcons have reasonable fees for people who wish to send their kids for a systematic approach to growth, compared to the exorbitant rates charged by some of the European academies running in Kuwait.
BEST WISHES
Best wishes go to the Falcons, and to the budding youth. Hope to see the Academy grow into one of the best in the years to come.
May we see some of the players turn up to
represent our nation India and play in the top leagues of the world.