RISE AS ONE GOA

CHURCHILL BROS TO PLAY DEMPO SC IN GSPL OPENER

Benjamin Silva, (second left) President of the Goa Sevens Premier League at the official draw ceremony along with Igidio Dascosta, Referee Assessor, Charlton Furtado, Event Co-ordinator and Benjamin Silva, Match Commisioner (third left) held at PJN Stadium Conference Hall, Fatorda on Thursday.

MARGAO:  Churchill Bros SC. will lock horns with Dempo SC in the opening match of the Goa Sevens Premier League (GSPL) beginning from 30^th April to May 14^th at at the training ground adjacent to the Fatorda stadium, Margao.

The official draw was held at the hands of Benjamin Silva, President of Goa Sevens Premier League  in the presence of officials and Team Managers.

“The main aim to organize the Goa Sevens Premier League is to create more awareness about football. We have football culture in Goa and are having the Sevens League for the first time in this State. It has never happened.  Today we are attempting to get the crowd back through the Seven-a-Side League,” said Benjamin Silva.

“Look at Kerela, they have been successful in the Seven-a-Side tournament. But we have created  ground for this Sevens event.

“Today we have the Team Managers representing all the teams . I urge them to inculcate a sense of discipline in this league,” appealed Benjamin.

The top 8 clubs include Salgaocar FC, Dempo SC, Vasco SC, Sporting Club de Goa and Churchill Bros SC. FC Bardez, Guardian Angel SC and Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim.

The participating teams with their star players would be seen in action at the training ground adjacent to the Fatorda stadium. The preparations are on a war footing at the venue with the support of Sevens experts from Kerala.

“This is the first time we are having the Sevens League. We need the cooperation from all teams to make this a big event.

“This tournament will be run under GSPL and will be played according to the Sevens rules,” informed the Benjamin Silva, Match Commisioner.

Benjamin highlighted the rules of the game with the team managers. He also spoke on the ground dimensions and the match duration. The sample of the official ball was displayed to the media.

A minimum of five players will be required to kick start the match. We are following the league format  which is result oriented,” informed  the Match Commisioner.

Igidio Dascosta, Referee Assessor, spoke on the Fair Play and rules of the game. He answered the Team Managers queries and explained the finer aspects of the rules.

The Goa Sevens Premier League (GSPL) will look to bring football fans back to the stadium to celebrate all that is beautiful about the game.

Using football as a bridge, Goa Sevens Premier League aims for mass participation amongst football clubs and most importantly the fans, which have been missing in a competitive setting.

The 15-day event comprises in a league cum knock-out format starts on April 30^th and ends on 14^th of May. Doordarshan will telecast the semi-final matches and the final.

On the final day of the event, football legends of Kerala and Goa will face off in an exhibition match.

After the Goa League the sevens will hit Mizoram, Tamil Nadu, Telungana and Chathisgarh. All these States expressed their willingness to initiate the Sevens League. Middle East is also keen on launching Sevens league in the region.

The GSPL is organized by Ambelim Sports Club and Goa Sevens Sports and Cultural Association . The GSPL media campaign is supported by Goa Network7, PR agency.

GOA SEVENS PREMIER LEAGUE TO BRING BACK FANS TO THE STADIUM

MARGAO: The Goa Sevens Premier League (GSPL) will look to bring football fans back to the stadium to celebrate all that is beautiful about the game.

The Goa Football Association (GFA) gave GSPL big thumbs up, approving the league and major teams from the Goan professional league, who have consented to play in the GSPL.

"It's an initiative to which we have given a guarded approval. It's something new and may evince some interest and since it is at the end of the season when our Pro league is over, and that too under flood lights, we thought of granting our approval, “said Elvis Gomes, President of GFA.

"The clubs can participate in the same with their registered players or those taken on loan. We will give our final approval based on the league rules set by the organizers. Our role would essentially come in case of any dispute," informed Elvis.

“The organizers have taken the responsibility about team participation. We only insisted that the league should be between registered teams and registered players,” said Elvis.

The top 8 clubs include Salgaocar FC, Dempo SC, Vasco SC, Sporting Club de Goa and Churchill Bros SC. FC Bardez, Guardian Angel SC and Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim. The Sevens league is also recognized by the Sports Authority of Goa, (SAG).

Major star players will line-up, with 8 teams; Sensational goals that agonizing miss, or the blotched pass that will win or prove a big loss for the team – those emotions do not end at the final whistle. Goa Sevens Premier League players will soak up the elation, and dust off the disappointment and take that desire to win their next game.

Using football as a bridge, Goa Sevens Premier League aims for mass participation amongst football clubs and most importantly the fans, which have been missing in a competitive setting.

“We have to try various things to help the sport grow. We felt it would be good for the clubs and the fans to have this kind of a shorter version. Anything that can generate fan interest can be considered within the set parameters,” said Elvis.

The Sevens has two times more participation. Players touch the ball twice as much in 7-sided games. Players are involved in two times as many one-on-one situations. Goals are possible every four minutes. On average, in 7-a-side football, goals are scored every 4 minutes. Goalkeepers make 2 to 4 times as many saves in 7-a-side football than they do in 11-a-side. The ball is out of play 14 per cent of the playing time in 7-a-side football and 34 per cent in 11-a-side football.

“Novelty factor will bring in the fans and it looks quite interesting to the teams, players and the fans. I only urge the participants to play fair and by the rules,” added Elvis.

The Goa Sevens Premier League (GSPL) ensures highest footballing standards which are being followed right through team’s registration. This is the first time ever a State is all set to initiate a league for Sevens football after it originated in Kerala. The ‘Sevens’ gained popularity in Kerala and proved a crowd puller sport.Goa will bid to be the premier 7-a-side football league in the world.

The fun does not stop on the pitch; fans will get to celebrate inclusivity between matches – a time to revel in the festivities with friends and family, to socialize over food, drinks, music and a plethora of other entertaining activities.

KERALA FOOTBALL THRILLER ‘ SEVENS ‘ TO HIT GOA SOON

FOOTBALL LEGENDS TO CLASH IN EXHIBITION MATCH OF GSPL

Margoa : Goa is all set to launch the Goa Sevens Premier League(GSPL), a professional league in Sevens football. This is the first time ever a State is all set to initiate a league for Sevens football after it originated in Kerala. The ‘ Sevens’ gained popularity in Kerala and proved a crowd puller sport in this tourist State of India.

 Football gurus have huge expectations for GSPL in Goa; where football is passion. The Sevens league is compared to T-20 Cricket, which revolutionized the laws of play in Cricket.

With less players, small fields, lesser duration, fast movements, more goals and spectacular moments, Sevens has been widely accepted as a new age format of football. Sevens League is considered as a game for both fields and screen due to its skillful characteristics.

The Goa Football Association (GFA) has given GSPL a big thumbs up, approving the league and major teams from the Goan professional league, who have consented to play in the GSPL. The Sevens league is also recognized by the Sports Authority of Goa, (SAG). Major star players will line-up, with 8 teams; The top gun clubs include Salgaocar FC, Dempo SC, Vasco SC, Sporting Club de Goa and Churchill Bros SC. FC Bardez, Guardian Angel SC and Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim.

The 15-day GSPL football bonanza will spice up the event with elements of entertainment and fashion. Top clubs with their star players would be seen in action at the training ground adjacent to the Fatorda stadium. The preparations are on a war footing at the venue with the support of Sevens experts from Kerala.

The Sevens Premier League held in Kerala last year had the distinction of entering in the prestigious ‘Limca Book of Records’ as the biggest rural sporting event in the country under the category of ‘ Sports & Entertainment’.

On the final day of the event, football legends of Kerala and Goa will face off in an exhibition match. Legends players like I M Vijayan, C V Pappachan, Joe Paul Anchery, U Sharaf Ali, K T Chacko, Bruno, Mahesh Lotlikar, and Brahmanand will be seen in action.

The formal announcement of the league was done by Mr. Benjamin Silva, President, GSPL at a press conference here in Margoa recently.

The 15-day event comprises in a league cum knock-out format starts on April 30^th and ends on 14^th of May.

Dooradrshan will telecast the semi-final matches and the final. The Tourism Department of Goa will include GSPL in their calendar as a ‘State Tourism Event’.

After the Goa League the sevens will hit Mizoram, Tamil Nadu, Telungana and Chathisgarh. All these States expressed their willingness to initiate the Sevens League. Middle East is also keen on launching Sevens league in the region.

The GSPL is organized by Goa Sevens Sports and Cultural Association and Ambelim Sports Club. N Sports, the owners of the Indian Sevens Premier League conducting professional leagues in Kerala, are the consultant and strategic partner for the League. The GSPL media campaign is supported by Goa Network7, Cutting Edge Sports PR Agency.

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