Workshop highlights role of mentors in sports

Panaji: As part of the Jubilee Year 2025 celebration in the Archdiocese of Goa, the John Paul II Foundation for Sports organised a workshop on ‘Mentoring for Wholistic Development of Sportspersons’ at Fr. Agnel College of Arts and Commerce, Pilar, recently.
The workshop brought together coaches, physical educators and sports professionals to discuss the critical role of mentorship in shaping young athletes.
The highlight of the workshop was the felicitation of Goa’s first Dronacharya Award winner, Armando Colaco. The award is the highest recognition for coaches in the country. Colaco, who successfully coached Dempo SC and the national team, asked young coaches to believe in themselves. “If I can go on to win the top coaching award in the country, what stops you,” he asked the gathering.
Former India coach and technical director, Savio Medeira – now with Sporting Clube de Goa – former India women’s coach Maymol Rocky, AFC match commissioner Anthony John D’Costa, former India U-17 goalkeepers coach Mario Aguiar and veteran journalist Jovito Lopes were also among those felicitated.
“A true mentor not only trains athletes for success in the game but also guides them towards success in life,” said Kennedy D’Silva, director of the John Paul II Foundation for Sports. “Our goal is to build a strong mentoring culture in sports to create responsible and resilient sportspersons.”
The event provided a platform for interactive discussions on the challenges and best practices in mentoring through case studies, especially in connection with the ISL from its inception, emphasising values-based education and holistic development as the need of the hour.
The workshop saw participation from around 140 physical education professionals, sports coaches, referees and physical education students from Don Bosco College.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Holi wisheswishes, messages and quotes !