Goan-origin Justin Fernandes makes it to Qatar’s under-17 football team for Asian Cup 2023

QATAR: According to a Times of India report, a teenager of Goan origin, Justin Fernandes has made Goa proud by fighting his way into the Qatar football team for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023 Qualifiers in Muscat.

The 15-year-old budding footballer was included in the match-day squad for the opener against Iraq, which Qatar won 2-1 at the Sultan Qaboos sports complex in Muscat on Saturday, the Times of India said in a report.

The youngster did not take to the field in the opening ‘group C’ clash, but with three games still left to be played against hosts Oman, Lebanon and Bahrain, it’s only a matter of time before the striker breaks into the playing 11 hitting the field with all his energy.

Justin’s football career began at the Doha-based Absolute Sports Academy, when he travelled with the under-11 team to Armenia and was voted the best forward.

A year later, his team won the summer camp tournament in Georgia, and in 2018, was the best under-13 player. In 2019, he joined Al Ahli SC, a top club in the region, the TOI report said.

Justin’s mother is from Assolna, while father Camillo was born in Mumbai to Goan parents from Murida in Cuncolim.

Camillo migrated to Qatar in 2000 in search of “opportunities”, and since then, has not just made a name for himself, but his son too is now among the best teenage players in Qatar.

Source: Times of India