He shoots from different angles and on occasion’s sets up his colleagues for the kill. He leaps and out jumps rival defenders to nod in goals past the rival defense. He fly’s like a featured creature to connect low dipping crosses from the flanks in the goal mouth into goals. He holds lot of promise on the football field for a eighteen year old.
ARMSTRONG VAZ takes a closer look at the upward career graph of Cuncolim based football striker who recently represented the Goa junior team in the all India national junior championship at Jharkand. Wesley coutinho has been revelation for Salcete football club in the second division campaign this season notching goals in every match that his play so far. Wesley’s goal scoring feat has made Salcete f ootball club march into the play off from the south zone possible along with ABC benaulim. The two Salcete based teams will be fighting it out with two North zone qualifiers for a lone place in next seasons first division league. A closer look at one of the Products of Cuncolim youth development schme WESLEY COUTNHO from Milleavaddo Cuncolim, son of Wilson coutinho and Yolanda coutinho. Higher caliber football beamed into our homes through cable TV have been a source of inspiration and motivation for many a new breed of young footballers who want to make it big in the football world. Striker coutinho was part of the goa junior team which took part in the all India junior national championship at Jharkand. Although Wesley was representing goa for the first time he has fond memories of the tournament as an individual as he scored two of the five goals that Goa scored. His two goals however could not bail out goa with Goa losing two of the three matches and drawing one three all against Uttar Pradesh while losing 1-4 to Kerala and 1-2 to Jharkand. Wesley Coutinho idolizes Manchester united striker Rudi Van Nielstroy as He grew up in the football culture in his village. He soaked in the football atmosphere watching senior boys from his ward play football. The talent was evident at a young age and with it the ambition and drive to make it big. Senior players from his ward like veteran Diego coutinho and Denzil coutinho playing along side him made hi m aware of his abilities and encouraging words of advice came whoever matter to him. He got his first lessons of coaching as an under 12 player of the Cuncolim union football team from coach levino dias, thereafter he grew up to play for the under 15 Cuncolim union team in the Goa football association organized tournaments, where he doubled up as a defender and striker. Besides the Manchester united striker Ruud van nistelrooy He other Indian favourite player is East Bengal medio Alvito D”Cunha, while international Mahesh Gawali and two other Cuncolim based players Fredy Mascarenhas and Micky Fernandes playing for professional clubs has motivated him enough to seek greener pastures in the big footballing world in the coming years. Ivory John his former physical education teacher at Don Bosco High school sulcona Rivona recalls his early childhood days at School when Wesley dreamt of playing for either of the two clubs Dempo sc or Salgoacar and was did not shy away in expressing his desire to his teachers and class mates. Wesley has been part of the Don Bosco high school sulcona rivona subroto Mukerjee state level football team which made the trip to Delhi. He was one of the key member of the squad pumping in 17 goals on the way to his school annexing the title. The trip to Delhi was an experience for Wesley who was the highest scorer of the schoolat the state level pumping in a phenomenal 17 goals in all. Then came the under-17 call from Salcete FC coach Peter Rodrigues who has been able to drill in the belief that he can make it big in the Football World. “He has natural talent and knack of scoring goals which is a god’s gift. He has to work hard to build up his game further to make it build, he has also to discipline himself in order to attain success”. Wesley coutinho has also benefited from the salcete football club coaching where in the club brought in India coach Stephen Constantine to give some words of encouragement and advice to the young boys in the age group of 16-19 years last season. At Goa Juniors, Wesley worked under hard task master Mariano Dias, besides Ignatius Dias and Mickdom Rebello. Wesley has also been part of the Cuncolim Educational Society’s Higher Secondary team which lost to St.Xavier s Higher Secondary, Mapusa in the inter- higher secondary tournament last season. In between the Cuncolim inter village and third division league player for the season which has just ended has also turned up for Dempo juniors in the national football league for NFL clubs last may assisting Dempo sports club in the tournament. His moment of joy came when he scored the lone goal against Salgoacar sports club in Dempos 1-0 win in the junior NFL. Studies and Football balance has been struck for Wesley with coaches, officials, teachers and head of institution all promoting Wesley the Footballer and Wesley the student. The Footballer remained back preferring not to travel with the Goa squad for the twin preparatory tours of Jharkhand and Sangli for the all India open invitation tournament, preparing for his board examination. On his future plans the soft spoken lad hopes that he will play for any of the clubs in the Professional league or in the first division depending on the advice and offers he gets in the coming days. Till then the young lad is enjoying football field and the accolades associated with and working hard for more and bigger fame and success which is there for the takes.
