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Great Goals Award winning Football Academy for Kids, Chennai
Great Goals Award winning Football Academy for Kids, Chennai
A Quality Conscious Sports Academy
Great Goals is a child-centric AIFF award winning sports academy with players varying from ages 4-16 that offers football and basketball coaching. It is a place where skill and fun come together to equip children with necessary skills that’ll inspire them to reach greater goals in their lives.
Our highly-trained and accredited coaches support every step of a child’s development throughout the program.
Since 2013, over 10,000 young children have experienced our coaching. We presently run 8 centres, have partnered with 13 schools and have reached students in more than 70 schools in Chennai in the age group of 4-16 years.
OUR VISION
Engage. Inspire. Empower.
We believe sports to be a metaphor for life. Great Goals is a sports academy that teaches young boys and girls important life values as they develop their sport skill while training with us. Children learn problem-solving, teamwork, leadership, respect, and resilience in addition to technical skills. These principles form the foundation of the Great Goals programme and will continue to be our main emphasis moving forward.
Our mission is to develop players who are competitive, compassionate, disciplined, adaptable, driven, and responsible.
Engage
Sport can transform lives. At Great Goals, we train boys and girls to connect with themselves and those around them and assimilate the multiple benefits that emerge from playing a team sport. This imprint is very powerful when sport becomes part of their growing years. The life skills that sport manifests in boys and girls, help shape their personalities. We facilitate this growth through structured programs, relevant platforms, partnerships and networks.
Inspire
We aim to ignite that spark in young boys and girls and enable them to become the best version of themselves. This aim lies at the core of everything we do. Our sports programs are player-centric and provide a strong foundation with a positive environment to develop both technical and non-technical skills. We align ourselves with current global thinking and best practices in sport and education to deliver both meaningful and inspiring sports education to our players.
Empower
We allow players to grow at their own pace and evolve holistically. We enable players to reach their highest potential by offering rigorous training and structured opportunities. By developing their competitive spirit, teamwork and leadership skills, we help children aspire to great goals in life through sports.
We Celebrated 10 Years in 2023
For our 10-year milestone, we spoke with many of our supporters about the early years, and our organic evolution and progression over the last decade.
In a candid conversation with Indian film critic & writer Baradwaj Rangan, our co-founders Priya Gopalen & Sandhya Rajan broke down for us, what really goes into running Chennai’s leading football academy.
Meet the Founders
Priya Gopalen
Co-Founder
Priya Gopalen spent 17 years working in the field of urban sustainability and planning. She holds a master’s in Urban and Public Policy from Columbia University and is an engineer from BITS-Pilani. She also holds an MBA from the Asian Institute of Management and has worked on development and sustainability programmes in many different parts of the world. Her main interest is giving children opportunities that are engaging, worthwhile, and transformative. She hopes to give children these experiences through sport as a co-founder of Great Goals. She is also co-founder of The Magic Bean and a partner and director at CanFan Pvt. Ltd. and Onload Gears.
Sandhya Rajan
Co-Founder
For more than 17 years, Sandhya Rajan has worked with children in preschool, elementary, and high school settings. She graduated from the University of Madras with a master’s in biochemistry. She found that working with children made her feel happy and accomplished. She aims to assist children in realising and maximising their potential via sports as a co-founder of Great Goals. Additionally, Sandhya has held the position of Independent Director on the boards of India Cements Ltd. and Easy Access Financial Services Ltd.
Meet the Advisors
Ivor Gumm
Ivor is the Technical Director for Great Goals Football. He is a UEFA A Licensed coach, and he has over 30 years of coaching experience.
He has coached in France, Germany, Italy, Kenya, South Africa, Sudan and the USA. He specializes in working with players aged 14-18 but has worked with all ages. His primary role in Great Goals is coach education. One fun fact about Ivor is that he used to play professional football as a striker!
Sankar Komaleeswaran
Sankar is a Senior Consultant for Great Goals Academy. He is a sports enthusiast with more than 30 years of experience in football refereeing.
He is the only Indian to officiate as an Assistant Referee in the 2002 World Cup and in 2000 Sydney Olympics. He also holds a AFC C licence.
Meet the Coaches
Arun Kumar K
With an AFC B License and Goalkeeping Level 1 certification, Arun has been coaching since 2015, including stints in Pondicherry and Chennai’s top divisions.
His sessions balance challenge with support, fostering a positive learning atmosphere. Passionate about nurturing players across all levels, Arun adapts his approach to fit each environment.
Jayasurya M
An AFC C License holder, Jayasurya has been coaching since 2023, drawing from experience with Chennai district teams, Sports Authority of India, and Chennaiyin FC U17.
He focuses on creating a positive, challenging environment that pushes players to grow.
Mohammed Nihaal Sajjid
An AFC C License coach with advanced scouting and grassroots certifications, Nihaal has been coaching since 2017.
He focuses on developing skilled, confident players with a winning mentality, both on and off the pitch.
Ravi Suresh
An AFC C License holder, Ravi has been coaching football since 2020 and brings experience from playing in District Division 1.
He has worked with players across multiple age groups, focusing on developing both skill and confidence. Dedicated to youth football’s growth, Ravi emphasizes self-learning and sharing knowledge with others.
Somasundaram T
An AFC C License coach and Category 7 Referee, Somasundaram has been coaching since 2015. His mission is to help each player reach their personal best on and off the field.
He represented Tamil Nadu at U13 and U17 levels, played for University of Madras and Hindustan University, and competed in the Chennai Senior Division League for over a decade.
Subhash Chandra Bose
AFC C License coach Subhash has worked with academies, school teams, and senior division squads since 2019, including grassroots development in tribal communities.
His playing background spans super division and first division teams in Thiruvallur. Subhash is passionate about inspiring young players and capturing life’s moments through writing and photography.
Sudhakar R T
Holding an AFC C License & multiple AIFF certifications, Sudhakar began coaching in 2023 after representing Tamil Nadu in the Santosh Trophy and playing for top university and club teams.
He values discipline, teamwork, and creativity, aiming to instill these qualities in every player.
Valavan T
An AFC C License coach, Valavan brings experience from representing his school at state and national levels. He strives to create a supportive and challenging environment.
He blends his playing experience with a fresh approach to coaching.
Vinayak Venkata Subramaniam
An AFC C License coach with multiple AIFF certifications, Vinayak has been coaching since 2023.
He blends his playing experience with a passion for match analysis and science-based coaching to help players reach their full potential.
Aakash Sowmyanarayanan
AIFF D License holder Aakash began coaching in 2025. Though new to professional football, he brings creativity and leadership from various
experiences in motorsport, music, and film, valuing discipline, teamwork, and innovation in his coaching.
Bharathi P
Bharathi, an AIFF D License coach since 2018, combines his lifelong love of football with a passion for freestyle skills, performing on stage and inspiring young athletes.
He focuses on building confident, capable players through engaging, creative training.
Chrish Leo
Leo, an AIFF D License holder, began his coaching journey in 2023 after competing in KDFA League 1st Division.
He works with players of all ages, emphasizing discipline, teamwork, and creativity. Always eager to learn, Leo brings fresh ideas and energy to every session.
John Paul
John, an AIFF D License holder since 2023, has represented his state at school level. He is committed to creating an enjoyable, growth-focused environment for players,
always eager to expand his own knowledge.
Valluvan T
With an AIFF D License, Valluvan started coaching in 2023, drawing on experience from state and national tournaments as well as Chennai League.
He fosters a supportive and challenging training environment and enjoys connecting with young players.
Anbarasu
Currently learning as an intern coach, Anbarasu has represented his state twice at national level and earned state championship honors. He is committed to fostering a love
for football while guiding players toward excellence, valuing honesty and dedication both on and off the field.
Praveenkanth S
Since 2023, Praveenkanth has been coaching players across various age groups, building on his experience with the U-15 I League Great Goals and his University Team.
He is dedicated to developing both skill and confidence in young athletes.
Arunapradeepa D
A versatile coach with a background in state-level basketball, Aruna brings her passion for youth development to basketball training. She designs engaging sessions to
build foundational skills, discipline, and teamwork. Dedicated to continuous learning, she motivates athletes to excel in both sport and life.
Dhanalakshmi R
A dedicated basketball coach with Great Goals since 2014, Dhanalakshmi is passionate about the sport and loves working with children.
She brings energy, patience, and encouragement to every session, helping young players develop skills and confidence.
Support Team
Gayathri V
Gayathri is part of the Great Goals administrative team and has been with Great Goals since 2017.
Manikandan S
Manikandan is part of the Great Goals administrative team and has been with Great Goals since 2017.
Vasanthi S
Vasanthi is part of the Great Goals administrative team and has been with Great Goals since 2017.
Priya Balu
Priya is part of the Great Goals administrative team and has been with Great Goals since 2016.
Would you like to be part of the Great Goals Team?
We are always looking for people who share our vision, values and passion for working with children to reach their potential. If you’d like to be considered for a position, please fill out our Job Application Form.
Our Partners
Medical Partners
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Kauvery Hospital
Equipment Partners
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LightWay Sports
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COSCO
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Vector
S&C Partners
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Momentum Fitness
Fitness Partners
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First Step Physiotherapy
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Performance Doctor
Technology Partners
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Sportzy
Venue Partners
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Cube Sports, Anna Nagar
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Sportsleap & ArenaZ
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TRK Global / Turf 137
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Whistle Urban Sports Hub, Nungambakkam
Uniform Partners
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Sara Designs
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Marathon Needs