India skipper Virat Kohli, who co-owns the Indian Super League (ISL) football club FC Goa, launched a foundation to promote football at the grassroots level on Wednesday (February 28).

Known for being a big time football fanatic, Kohli named the foundation as Forca Goa. The main objective of this foundation is to use football as a vehicle for positive development in the football crazy state of Goa.

“The change in jersey is a symbolic representation of the whole club showing our solidarity and pledging our continued support to creating a robust ecosystem for football. This is a unique venture for us and I am extremely happy to be a part of this journey,” Kohli said according to Sport360.

“Goa is one of the biggest football hubs in the country. The Forca Goa Foundation’s main aim is to use this sport that we all love, to help the community and society at large to work together, in order to build a better future for the next few generations. Additionally, with the help of the Foundation, we hope to inspire more children, irrespective of gender to take up the sport and train and groom them into thorough professionals,” he further added.

Kohli has been associated with FC Goa right through its inception four years ago and has been a regular at some of their matches.

 “It is an honour being a part of the (Forca Goa) foundation. Beyond a point, it doesn’t matter which sport you are playing. Once you represent a sport in India and you get to a stage you are influencing people in the right way, I think any kind of inspiration that I can bring to the table is something that matters a lot.

“I can guarantee you that in any sport that you play at the global level, the people who are doing well consistently have similar mindsets – the way you think about the game, prepare for the game and take on opportunities, how you can train your mind from a very young age," Kohli said.

The cricketing superstar is also pleased with the fact that Goa players know how to handle the pressure and embrace the difficult times.

“What I have learnt by playing at this level for so long, I can present that to the kids from a very young age. So when they come to this level, they are already ready for that pressure and embrace the difficult times. For me that has been the most important factor in my sporting career so far. The results, obviously, will follow in time. Hopefully I can inspire a great number of kids here to become world class athletes,” concluded Kohli.