Sports | Keenan Almeida
For the Love of the Game
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The footballer highlights his journey from playing on the school field, to now playing for Churchill Brothers
By Sybil Rodrigues
eenan Almeida is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a right back in I-League for Churchill Brothers FC Goa. He was born and brought up in a small ward named Murida, in the village of Cuncolim. His father was a sailor and mother, a school teacher. A younger sister completes his family. “Like any other Goan kid, most of my childhood was spent with my village friends, playing all kinds of sports and getting into mischievous situations that all children get into.” Keenan completed his schooling from Assumpta Convent High School, Sarzora and higher secondary from RM Salgaocar Higher Secondary School (RMS), Margao. He then went on to graduate in Cost Accounting from Shree Damodar College of Commerce and Economics, Margao. Keenan speaks on what inspired him to get into the world of sports and most importantly, football. “As a kid I have always enjoyed playing any sport with my friends. Be it football, cricket or volleyball. When in school, I represented my school at football, handball, volleyball, kabaddi and athletics. I represented Goa at the school nationals for football, handball, volleyball, and kabaddi”. Not many people know that Keenan has been part of the nationals at all these sports other than football. Keenan chose football as he enjoyed playing the game and loved it, as compared to other sports. “I got a lot of praise at school level for being pretty decent at the game. On receiving such encouragement I felt that I could do well on the bigger field as well. From then on, I started my journey to achieve greater heights and chose football as my career”. Keenan reminisces about the early years in the game. “While playing in the village or even to an extent in school, it was more fun oriented. At that age, we were not well trained and 48 | My Goa | July 2021
Keenan Almeida
played for the pleasure of the game. But later, as I began training and playing at the under 16 level, it started getting more serious. The understanding and knowledge of the game also started developing in my mind and I had to face a lot of competition. So overall
from school level to the next level, things started getting more significant and professional. At the age of 17, when I signed my first contract with a professional senior team, Salgaocar FC, things changed for the better, as I began getting training which was
