Every year, Fr Orlando Rodrigues, managing director of Agnel's fast-growing educational infrastructure, makes a trip to the tiny Konkan coastal state. He is hunting for talent. This year, Fr Rodrigues' baggage on the way back included four young players, two defenders and two midfielders. Three of them -- Valent Fernandes, Cedric Coelho, Theofilo Dias -- represented Goa in the junior Nationals last December. Their inclusion has brought the number of Goan players in the Agnel roster to 17, out of of a total 24.

The Goan channel has been mutually beneficial. Due to the efforts of the players, the team has climbed up the Western India Football Association (WIFA) League with flair. In five years they have progressed from third division to the super league, where they now vieagainst top acts like Mahindras, Air-India and BMFC.

For the Goans, the super league is the ultimate stage where they can flash their skills and attract the attention of the big teams. Fr Rodrigues, who is also technical director of the football team, makes no bones of the fact that his club is a transit point to the bigger clubs in Mumbai. He says, ``If the players acquit themselves well, they will be professionals one day. The enthusiasm to show their talent will help them shine, and the big clubs are sure to notice them.''

One Fr Agnel player -- Douzy Godinho -- has already charted that course; he will wear Central Railway colours this year, and though Agnel will miss his reassuring presence in defence, Fr Rodrigues is genuinely happy for Douzy.``That is our aim, to put our boys in permanent jobs. How long is a man going to play football? What if there is an accident?''

For the same reason, Fr Rodrigues is against the prevalent system of hiring players on contracts. He cites the example of one of hisboys, Harish, who joined Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers (RCF) as a contract player. Harish had an injury to the eye, and was dumped by the club.

``I tell my boys, they should leave Agnel only if they are assured a job elsewhere,'' he says. And he practises what he preaches. Sixteen of the 24-member Agnel squad are employed inside the campus, as site supervisors or office staff (For instance, the four new recruits have been inducted as computer operators). The other eight are students at the Agnel Complex, learning one of the many trades on offer.

``We teach our players to work and play at the same time. Believe me, that contributes to a team's discipline. They take the game seriously. Many coaches told us after our performance last season, `if there was a prize for the most disciplined team in the league, it would come to us.''