I-LEAGUE Media Team

NEW DELHI: Sesa Football Academy, hailing from Goa, takes part in the upcoming edition of the U-19 I-League tournament, and the Head Coach of the Club, Ajay Acharya, believes that his boys are keen on a good showing and are looking to qualifying from the Goa Zone.

The Academy colts begin their campaign on December 13, when they take on the AIFF U-19 Elite Academy.

“The Sesa Academy team have  performed admirably well for the last two consecutive seasons  and.  this year we have a very young  team,” Ajay said.

“The players are aged only around 17-18 years, but we will put up a good show to qualify from the Goa Zone.”

The residential academy, which consists of players mostly from Goa, conduct their training from Monday to Saturday.  Training timings are from 4 pm to 5:45 pm, and it consists of small sided games, drills for endurance, speed, ball technique, tactical workouts and session in the gym to gain strength.

No morning training sessions are conducted since the players go for school/Higher secondary/college.

The Sesa Academy have their own two natural football playing pitches – one at Sirsaim and one at Sanquelim.  These pitches are maintained in top condition all year round. The Senior India National Team have also trained on the pitches.

Sesa FA is the only  Academy in Goa  who owns the two football fields and other infrastructure and facilities for training and development of young players.

The team have played their practice matches against the India U-19 side, the Salgaocar FC U-19 team, the Goa Police First Division Team, as well as the Sesa FA Goa Professional Division Team.

In their previous campaign of the U-19 I-League, Acharya’s boys finished as the leaders in the group stages from the Goa Zone, with six wins from eight games. They finished third in the Final Round of the competition.