Foundation Team

Kennedy D’Silva is the Director of the Karuna Football Foundation. He was earlier the Director of Sports at the Goa University and was a Founder and Head of the Deptt. of Physical Education and Sports Sciences at the Don Bosco College at Panjim in Goa. He has been involved in the organisation of several  national sports events and was also the man behind conceptualizing the Unity World Cup Football Championship in 2014. He has travelled extensively to several countries including Brazil, Germany, USA, South Africa, Columbia, Canada and over another 16 Asian Countries, studying, participating and conducting trainings especially in football and other sports activities.

He was the Head of the Goa University Deptt. of Physical Education and Sports. His Education is B.Sc., M.P.Ed., M.S. in Psychological Counseling and Psychotherapy and M.B.A.(HR). He is professionaly qualified as a Physical Educationist, N.I.S in Volleyball, AFC C-Licence and Special Olympics-National Trainer. Among his biggest achievements he was appointed coach of the National Special Olympic Volleyball team for Shanghai World Games 2007 and the team won the gold medal.

Betty D’Silva is a Trustee at the Foundation. Presently she is the Head of the Deptt. of Physical Education and Sports at GVM’s GGPR College of Commerce at Ponda-Goa. Her education is B.Com., M.P.Ed. She is professionaly qualified as a Physical Educationist and is a international volleyballplayer and manager, She has also represented India in athletics and won several medals at the Asian Championships. She has been the manager and coach of the women’s and girls teams for several volleyball nationals for many years.

Melinda Periera is a Trustee at the Foundation. Presently she is the Head of the Deptt. of Physical Education and Sports at St. Xaviers Higher Secondary School at Mapusa-Goa. Her education is B.Com., M.P.Ed. She is professionaly qualified as a Physical Educationist and is a International Volleyballplayer and Captained the Indian team at the Lusofonia Games. She has been the manager and coach of the girls teams for more than 8 sports disciplines and is involved with life skills coaching for many years.

Heidi Scheunemann is the Technical Advisor at the foundation for the Girls Residential Football Academy. She is a German Football Coach with more than 26 years of experience in coaching football, in mentoring talented female teenage football players and in organising football tournaments for different age groups in Indonesia. She holds an UEFA B+ -License. Her education is Master of Business Administration. She has been a lecturer at economic colleges in Papua, Indonesia and has helped NGO`s in Papua in the development of small scale business units. She has been a mentor and consultant to many small business owners from underpriviledged, marginalised communities in Papua for the last 25 years.

She will be contributing to the program by mentoring, coaching and counseling the academy staff and by scouting talented football girls.  She will advise the foundation in setting up the Girls Residential Football Academy, in running coaching clinics and in setting up small business units where the trainees will be involved.

Played for Dempo SC , Churchill Brothers, Sesa Goa Sc, Represented Goa State Football Team For Santosh Trophy (3 Times). He has completed his FIFA “A” license”, Goalkeeper ”level “1, 2 & 3″ license”, D Licence & Goalkeeper Level Instructor Course, attended international level workshops and was selected by Manchester United Soccer School for a Coaching Course in the UK, He was also selected by British council and GFA and was trained under Hull City, Liverpool, and Manchester City Premier Skill Coaches. As a coach he represented several Goa teams at the Nationals including Santosh Trophy. He was coach for the Goa University Women Football Team and further was appointed as Goalkeeping Coach for the Junior India Teams represented as GK coach for India in Nepal, Uzbekistan, Iran, Korea, Germany, Spain, Dubai, South Africa. Presently he is working for the Sports Authority of Goa.

Chalton Furtado is an Events Director at the Foundation. His education is B.Com., B.P.Ed. He is professionaly qualified as a Physical Educationist, AFC Futsal Licence Coach. Presently he is the Physical Education Teacher at Auxilium High School, Goa and has been involved in the organisation of several National and International Sporting Events.

Avinash Costa is an Assistant Technical Director at the Foundation. His Education is B.Com., B.P.Ed. He is professionally qualified as a Physical Educationist, AFC C-License. He attended an Introductory Level Football Coaching Course by the Manchester United Soccer School in Manchester, in the UK in 2008. Presently he is the Physical Education Teacher at St. Pius X High School, Goa and was the manager of the Goa State team that won the third place at the AIFF 16th Senior Women’s National Football Championship 2008 in Haldia, West Bengal

A footballer from Mumbai as a youngster, played several clubs and also the Mumbai University and late in life took up to football coaching after being in Sales with several top MNC’s across the globe for over 3 decades. Was lately associated with the ARA FC Ahmedabad with the junior boys teams and also as Assistant Coach of the Women’s team. Served as Assistant Coach at the St. Xavier’s College in Ahmedabad. Presently as the Grassroots Development Coach with the Karuna Football Foundation’s Compassion Football Academy and part of the Women’s team at the Vedanta Women’s football tournament ( Runners Up) and the Khelo India Girls under 17 team ( Winners).

Compassion FC – A Football Club specially for orphans, slum kids and children of single parents has Prakash Khatri as its face because he himself is an orphan who lived on platforms, under the bridges, slept in train toilets etc. as he grew up. It was Prakash’s life which led to the idea behind ‘Compassion FC.’ He came from the streets begging and selling small items like plastic bags etc. and has had the experience of being in “Apna Ghar” (Juvenile Prison) but today he is a double graduate in Social Work & Physical Education. He also completed his PG (M.Div) and is a licensed coach in Football. He has represented Goa at the Nationals in Football and Boxing and now works with young boys and girls of Compassion FC. He has been trained in Football Leadership in Indonesia & Thailand . He is also a professional Cyclist and a Life Skills Coach.

Sansiew D’Silva is a Marketing Director at the Foundation. His education is B.Com., MBA (Sports Management). He is professionaly qualified as a Sports Manager and is involved presently with the BCCI during the Indian Premier League in Cricket and several International Cricket events. He is also a part of the Tokyo Olympics as Production and Technical Personnel at the Olympic Broadcasting Service. He has been involved in several trainings of Life Skills Internationally and is among the global leaders in the International Sports Movement. He has been a national handball player and was associated with football goalkeeping as a youngster.

Xylon Gracias is a PR Director at the Fondation. His education is B.E.(Information Technology).
Presently he is working as Lead Software Engineer at Persistent System’s Ltd. He has represented his school & college in multiple sports at inter school level and university level. Currently he manages the social media accounts of the foundation.

Xenio Gracias is a Designer at the Foundation. His education is Master in Computer Applications. Presently he is working as UI/UX Designer at Open Destinations Infotech Pvt. Ltd. He has represented his college in football at university level. He also manages the website of the foundation.

Dr. Shikhir Malhotra is a M.B.B.S.(Medical Doctor) from the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and has worked as Junior Resident at the Goa Medical College, Goa. He has been associated with our foundation for the past 5 years and is presently doing his MD at the prestigous AIIMS. He has been attending to all the players for medical advise at the time of registrations with the Goa Football Association etc. He has also been handling all medical issues including injuries and involved in timely diagnosis and treatment of the players.

Savio Madeira is presently the head of the Coaching Education in India under the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and was also earlier the Technical Director for AIFF.

Savio has a wealth of experience having played his entire career for Salgaocar SC before becoming the coach of that team. He remained at the post for six years and then accepted the invitation from AIFF to be the assistant coach for the Indian side under Bob Houghton. He was appointed the National Team Coach in 2011 and managed the team in 2011 SAFF Cup and 2012 AFC Challenge Cup. Savio has represented India as a football player.

Sneha Ann Menon is a Chartered Accountant by profession and is the director of the Sneha Menon and Associates Pvt. Ltd. She has been associated with several bussiness organisations and mainly been serving the foundation for more than seven years by taking care of all the financials and audits. She has been advising the foundation at all levels and is also involved in training about financials sustainability during the Football Leadership Training program organised by the Foundation.

Maria Piedade Rebello is an Indian professional football referee who used to officiate at different levels before she became an International Football Referees Assessor. She is involved in different parts of Asia on behalf of FIFA. Maria, who now is a FIFA-listed women’s referee from India was also the former captain of the India women’s football team. She has played the role of a player, coach, referee and now as a Refree Assessor in India and advises the foundation in different aspects of the beautiful game.