
Sesa Football Academy
Background and ObjectivesSesa Football Academy or SFA is a unit of Sesa Community Development Foundation, which is promoted by Sesa Goa Limited with the objective of service to the community in their operational areas.
Football being Goan’s and the world’s most popular game, was chosen by Sesa Community Development Foundation, with a view to spotting young talent in football, to nurture them with appropriate scientific and specific training, in a residential programme which not only produces skilled footballers possessing physical and mental strength but also helps in producing disciplined citizens while pursuing their studies.
SFA began functioning from June 1999 at Virdi, Sanquelim, Goa. All expenses including the academic studies taken care by the academy.
Training & CourseThe course at SFA is a four year residential programme with systematic training. The programme for the juniors is aimed at youth in the age group of 14 to 16 years, while the programme for the seniors is for youth in the age groups of 16 -18 years.
Some salient features of the training are:
The training at SFA focuses on the following aspects of the overall personality, skill and attitude of the trainees.
| Psychologial Aspects | Behavioural Aspects | Technical Aspects | ||||||
| Endurance | Communication | Wide range of basic and complex skills | ||||||
| Basic, Speed and Combined Endurance | Involvement & Attitude | Suppleness | ||||||
| Strength | Motivation | Fast footwork | ||||||
| Specific, explosive and polymetric strength | Competition | Feinting while in position | ||||||
| Speed | Sharing responsibilities | Receiving, disturbing | ||||||
| Speed, coordination, explosive speed, agility | Winning Temperament | First touch | ||||||
| Flexibility | Dribbling | |||||||
| Stretching, Yoga and Gymnastics | Shooting | |||||||
In addition, the trainees are also imparted training on specific tactical skills, which are of utmost importance in their game and performance as footballers.
Formal education is given in local schools / colleges. The choice of education for formal education solely rests with the management of SFA. Besides tutor is arranged every day to guide the students in their studies.
A Day In The AcademyTraining at SFA is designed to ensure the overall rounded development of the trainees' personality, with equal emphasis laid on various aspects of education, physical fitness, nutrition, football training and time for leisure. To give an example, below is a typical day in the life of a trainee at SFA.
| 05:30 a.m. | Wake up call | |||||||
| 06:00 a.m. - 07:00 a.m. | Workout at the gym | |||||||
| 07:00 a.m. - 07:30 a.m. | Bath and breakfast | |||||||
| 07:45 a.m. | Leave for school / college | |||||||
| 08:00 a.m. - 01:30 p.m. | School / College | |||||||
| 01:45 p.m. | Return from school / college | |||||||
| 02:00 p.m. - 02:30 p.m. | Lunch | |||||||
| 02:30 p.m. - 03:30 p.m. | Leisure | |||||||
| 03:30 p.m. - 06:30 p.m. | Football practice Training by coaches | |||||||
| 06:30 p.m. - 07:00 p.m. | Refreshments | |||||||
| 07:00 p.m. - 08:30 p.m. | Study time | |||||||
| 08:30 p.m. - 08:45 p.m. | Prayer | |||||||
| 08:45 p.m. - 09:15 p.m. | Dinner | |||||||
| 09:15 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. | Leisure / Recreation | |||||||
| 10:00 p.m. | Lights off | |||||||
A lot of attention is paid to nutrition and the diet of the trainees' is spread with an objective of ensuring 3500 to 4000 Kcal (approx) in the meals spread into breakfast, lunch, evening snacks and dinner.
Similarly, a lot of attention is paid to the health of the trainees. Regular medical attention is provided by resident doctors. Focus is on ensuring appropriate physical fitness through contemporary sports medicine practices.
Physiological assessment
Physiotherapy
In case of exigencies, medical / surgical facilities are also provided through Company’s associations with recognised hospitals in and outside Goa.
In order to ensure that the trainees are provided with adequate recreation and time to recuperate, and also with a view that the trainees can spend time with their families, the curriculum includes a total vacation of about 7 weeks in a year. Besides this, trainees are allowed to visit and spend time with their parents / guardians for a night once in a month.
Admission ProcedureThe course of SFA is strictly residential.
The successful 15 trainees graduate out of SFA every year. At the convocation ceremony held at their passing out, they are presented with certificates. Till now, the following four batches have passed out.
1st Batch, 2002: 10 trainees
2nd Batch, 2003: 15 trainees
3rd Batch, 2006: 15 trainees
4th Batch, 2008: 17 trainees, passed out in April 2008
Achievements | Year | Achievement | |||||||
| 1999 - 2000 | GFA Under 17 Champions | |||||||
| 2000 - 2001 | GFA 3rd Division Champion | |||||||
| 2002 - 2003 | GFA Under 19 Champion | |||||||
| 2003 - 2004 | GFA Under 17 Champion | |||||||
| 2004 - 2005 | GFA 2nd Division Champion | |||||||
| 2004 - 2005 | GFA Under 18 Runner Up | |||||||
| 2005 - 2006 | All Goa Idea Cup Winners | |||||||
| 2005 - 2006 | GFA Under 18 Champion | |||||||
| 2005 - 2006 | GFA Under 20 Champion | |||||||
| 2006 | Journalist Sports Promotion Award | |||||||
| 2007-2008 | Winner of 1st Division Tournament Qualify for Professional Football | |||||||
| 2007-2008 | Winner of U- 18 Tournament | |||||||
| 2007-2008 | Winner of U -20 Taca Goa Tournament | |||||||
AlumniTill now, SFA has produced the following professional footballers, who are now associated with various professional clubs, making a name for themsleves and their clubs.








