AIFF GS Shaji Prabhakaran lauds FC Goa's 'Fields of Dreams' project

The project was launched on the 7th of February.

Shaji Prabhakaran, the Secretary General of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), praised Indian Super League outfit FC Goa and Forca Goa Foundation (FGF) for their newly-launched ‘Fields of Dreams’ project on Friday.

Earlier this month, Forca Goa Foundation - the community wing of FC Goa - launched the ‘Field of Dreams’ project in association with Delta Corp Limited, with the aim to kick-start India's biggest grassroots-level football revolution. The project involved facilitation of state-of-the-art football grounds accessible to all across the state of Goa, in what is a first for Indian football.

Speaking on the ‘Fields of Dreams’ project, Shaji Prabhakaran lauded the Foundation’s efforts and the work done by Akshay Tandon, FC Goa President and co-owner, in turning visions into reality.

“We are witnessing something that was dreamt by Akshay and the Forca Goa Foundation team. Congratulations to Akshay for making this happen. It's a great thing that whatever you have dreamt, you have seen it through. You are walking the talk,” he said at the launch of the project at Monte de Guirim.

The AIFF Secretary General also highlighted how the project aligns with the Federation’s own set of ambitions for the future of Indian football.

“This is what we want in our country where we have big dreams like in Indian Football we launched Vision 2047. And one of the goals is that every top Club in India by 2047 should have a strong and elite structure. And by 2026, the top teams should have a functional youth structure.

“We at AIFF, would like to collaborate with FC Goa and other like-minded clubs to bring about bigger and significant changes for elite football development. We have no dearth of talent but lack a structural approach towards developing it.

"I would like to congratulate FC Goa and Forca Goa Foundation for making it happen in 2023 itself. What you are doing is going to inspire everyone in our football fraternity.

“Goa, has always been leading by example. It lagged behind over the last decade but with you being here, FC Goa setting the example, I'm sure Goa will shine. If we have more pitches, we will have more children playing and if more children play, we will find those diamonds.”