Sesa Academy’s Barreto may head for Spain

Eduard Basart will spend one year with Palamos CF and play for the club's U-19 team.

Published : Jul 31, 2018 15:13 IST , Panjim

Vedanta Sesa Football Academy's striker Mark Barreto.
Vedanta Sesa Football Academy's striker Mark Barreto.
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Vedanta Sesa Football Academy's striker Mark Barreto.

Spain’s Eduard Basart’s eye for talent may give 18-year-old Mark Barreto the best campus placement a young Goan footballer can aspire for.

Eduard Basart, the Technical Director of Vedanta Sesa Football Academy (VSFA), recommended the teenage striker from Fatorda to Spanish club Palamos CF's U-19 squad. Visa formalities need to be completed before Barreto, a trainee from the 2014-2018 batch of Goan players, flies out to commence a one-year arrangement. 

Barreto, a FY Degree student in commerce at Our Lady of Rosary College, is hoping the opportunity to continue football lessons in Spain materialises and is able to make parents dreams come true. His father drives a tempo and mother works in the administration section of an organisation.

The Vedanta Group is ready to bear incidental and other expenses needed during the stay there. As per the arrangement, Palamos will take care of training, stay, travel to competitions.

The arrangement between VSFA and Palamos is for one year and the player would play for the Spanish club U-19 team, according to Sukhwinder Singh, CEO, Football Project.

Basart’s recommendation helped Barreto retain the club's interest after missing trials due to visa issues. The Goan teenager, a Lionel Messi fan, is looking ahead to watching his idol perform in the La Liga when opportunity arises.

Basart, in Spain to renew his own visa, said in a telephonic chat: “Mark is technically strong and has the skills required of a player for the No 10 position in Spanish football.”

Asked to specify about the difference in Spanish and Indian youngsters, he said: “Kids in age group football with Spanish clubs play minimum of 40 official  matches, compared to 10 official games by Indian juniors. Reaction time in a match situation after getting the ball is faster in kids there.”

Barreto was chosen among four VSFA players shortlisted and Palamos looked at match videos of the striker, informed Sukhwinder.

He added, “Language is one area he will need to be pick up fast, they will train him. Palamos has youngsters from other nationalities, so are familiar with the situation faced by an 18-year-old Indian coming to train and play in Spain for the first time.”

 

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