St. Anthony’s SC Make History As First Goa Village Club To Receive AIFF Training Compensation

St. Anthony's Sports Club Marna-Siolim have created a significant milestone for grassroots football in Goa by becoming the first village football club in the state to receive Training Compensation through the All India Football Federation's (AIFF) Club Registration System (CRS).

The club received ₹54,000 following the professional transfer of their player Puyam Vicky Singh to NorthEast United FC. The development marks an important step towards ensuring that grassroots clubs are financially recognised for their role in developing young footballers.

The breakthrough has been made possible by the Goa Football Association's (GFA) decision to introduce CRS registrations across all its affiliated competitions. By bringing clubs at every level under the AIFF registration system, the GFA has enabled grassroots and village clubs to claim Training Compensation and Solidarity Payments when their players move to professional clubs.

St. Anthony's Sports Club Marna-Siolim are the first beneficiaries of the initiative in Goa, with the GFA expecting more clubs to benefit from the system in the coming seasons.

GFA President Dr. Caitano Fernandes said, "Goa has always produced footballers of quality. What we needed was a system that ensured the clubs responsible for that development were properly recognised and rewarded. The CRS has made that possible, and today's outcome for St. Anthony's Sports Club Marna-Siolim is a direct result of that commitment. The GFA will continue to work to ensure that every club in Goa fully benefits from what they are rightfully entitled to."

GFA Executive Committee Member and President of St. Anthony's Sports Club Marna-Siolim, John Pereira said, "St. Anthony's Sports Club Marna-Siolim is pleased to have received Rs 54,000 as training compensation following the transfer of our player to NorthEast United FC. This is a significant encouragement for grassroots clubs like ours that invest in developing young footballers. We sincerely thank the Goa Football Association for their support in facilitating this process, which will motivate more clubs across Goa to continue investing in youth development."

Marcos Ralph Fernandes, Member of St. Anthony's Sports Club Marna-Siolim, also welcomed the development and highlighted the wider impact it could have on grassroots football.

"I would like to thank the Goa Football Association for introducing the CRS system for football leagues in Goa and for their efforts in facilitating training compensation for clubs. This is a major encouragement for grassroots clubs and will motivate more clubs to invest in identifying, nurturing and developing young footballers for the future," he said.

The GFA has urged all its affiliated clubs to ensure that their players are registered under the CRS system. The association has also offered assistance to clubs seeking guidance on the registration process and the benefits available through the system.

With St. Anthony's Sports Club Marna-Siolim becoming the first village club in Goa to receive such compensation, the initiative could pave the way for a more structured and rewarding grassroots football ecosystem across the state.