Kshitij OjhaWith the aim to kick-start India’s biggest grassroots-level football revolution, the Forca Goa Foundation (FGF), a sister concern of Indian Super League club FC Goa, has launched the “Fields of Dreams” project in association with Delta Corp Limited.
About Forca Goa Foundation
The FGF is a not-for-profit entity that creates community-based programmes for children to learn and play football in an inclusive environment. The foundation is registered under the name “Forum for Sports and Freedom of Expression” and is a Section 25 Company governed by Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 formally incorporated on 9/6/2017.
While the aim of the foundation is to create a robust grassroots football movement, the approach is to find avenues for championing sustainable practices, partner with like-minded organisations, and use football as a medium for sustainable development.
About Delta Corp Limited
Delta Corp Ltd, a flagship company of the group, is the only listed company engaged in the gaming (live, electronic and online) and hospitality spaces in India. Incorporated in 1990 as a textiles and real estate consultancy company, Delta Corp has evolved into diversified segments, like casino gaming, online gaming, hospitality and real estate.
Delta Corp, along with its subsidiaries, owns and operates the “Deltin” brand of luxury casinos in the Indian states of Goa and Sikkim as well as an international casino in Nepal. The company also owns and operates the Deltin Suites, an all-suite casino-hotel in Goa, and The Deltin, which is a five-star hotel and integrated resort in Daman with a proposed casino.
The company has also ventured into the fast-growing online space with the online poker site Adda52.com and the online rummy site Adda52rummy.com
The launch event, staged in Monte de Guirim, Goa, saw Mauvin Godinho — Minister For Transport, Industries, Panchayati Raj, Trade And Commerce, Protocol & Hospitality, The Government of Goa, and Jaydev Mody — Chairman of Delta Corp, flag off the project in the presence of dignitaries such as Akshay Tandon — Executive Director of the FGF and President of FC Goa, Shaji Prabhakaran — General Secretary of the All India Football Federation — Caitano Fernandes, President of the Goa Football Association, and Anil Malani — President-Operations at Deltin, along with FC Goa players.
Under this project, the FGF is committed to enhancing the lives of children and communities in the country, starting with Goa with the financial support of Delta Corp. This project also aims to bridge the gap in grassroots football development by facilitating state-of-the-art football grounds accessible to all.
This is a one-of-a-kind initiative that looks to redefine what grassroots football can do for Goa and India by creating “Fields of Dreams” — spaces where the local community can truly be uplifted and have access to opportunities previously unavailable to them. The revamped football grounds are equipped with state-of-the-art playing surfaces, with a sand base, efficient drainage and sprinkling systems, and other necessary infrastructure.
Supporting the initiative, Chief Minister of Goa, Dr Pramod Sawant, said:
“Football is part of the identity of Goa. It is one of our greatest passions. Over the years, footballers from the State have been a source of inspiration and pride. Fields of Dreams is a project that is very close to my heart.
“This project has the potential to make a profound impact in the lives of all Goans. I would like to laud Delta Corp and the Forca Goa Foundation for their vision and the tireless effort they have put in to bring this to life.
“To see so many children here take [sic] to the field fills my heart with great joy and excitement. I hope that this project sets an example for others to come to the fore as we all look to grow together.”
Delta Corp, one of India’s leading gaming and hospitality companies, is dedicated to uplift the sports culture in India and Goa with the launch of the “Field of Dreams” project. Through this project, the sports infrastructure will be further strengthened to benefit local communities, providing them with improved sports facilities and opportunities.
Speaking on the partnership, Jaydev Mody, Chairman of Delta Corp, said:
“We are very happy to collaborate with [the] FGF to launch the ‘Field of Dreams’ project in Goa. We are confident that this project will help in developing football talent in the state and further give a real boost to the country. It will allow children to explore their talents and pursue their dreams.
“This project is a testament to Delta Corp Limited’s commitment to the development of the people of Goa and is a part of our larger mission to create a better future for India. We look forward to having more such collaborations for the betterment of society.
“‘Fields of Dreams’ will not only see the development of football turfs and provision of basic footballing infrastructure but also other facilities for the community that include but are not limited to a community hall, organic food gardens and areas for the elderly to gather. It will be a true amalgamation of how football can bring people together.”
Highlighting the importance of this project, Akshay Tandon, Executive Director of the FGF and President of FC Goa, said:
“We conducted a study on 196 football fields in Goa six years back. The findings revealed that only a small percentage of the pitches were fit for safe and accessible play. Approximately 90% of the fields are neglected and have none or sub-par facilities. This gap propelled the Foundation to launch ‘Fields of Dreams’ with the funding support of Delta Corp.“The youth of India deserve a fair chance at honing their skills and pursuing their dreams. With the ‘Field of Dreams’ project, I believe we will be making tangible impacts on people lives [sic]. We estimate to have impacted 5,000 families with our pilot project in Salvador and the grounds in Guirim will further impact more than 20,000 people in the surrounding regions.”
