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Dempo Sports Club on Saturday announced a slew of initiatives aimed at further professionalising its operations and becoming a football powerhouse.
The initiatives, declared by Club President Shrinivas V Dempo, involve deepening of the Goan outfit's ties with its Danish partner F C Midtjylland, launching a website and also merchandising line-up.
The three-pronged thrust is part of the club's strategic vision of transforming itself into a soccer power-house. This included strengthening of its technical and marketing efforts by inducting a football management professional, Suvrat Thatte.
Chief guest at the function, held at the Dempo Group's headquarters, was Claus Steinlein, head of the youth academy at Danish football club FC Midtijylland (FCM), with whom the Indian club signed an agreement last year for achieving technical and professional excellence.
Also present was Dempo Assistant Coach, Mauricio Afonso, standing in for club Secretary and coach Armando Colaco, who did not attend the event due to health reasons.
Both Afonso and Colaco have paid visits to the towns of Herning and Ikast in Denmark, which are the headquarters of Midtijylland, as part of the partnership.
The function saw the announcement of a youth player development programme agreed on by the two clubs. Two 18-year- old Goans, Aniston Jenslie Fernandes (midfielder) and Myron Manuel Fernandes (striker) were selected to undergo a three--month training programme at the FCM Academy.
The club launched its website on the occasion. Also unveiled was the club's initial line of merchandise,which included T-shirts, coffee mugs and key-chains.