VASCO
Two days after leading India to a historic win against Pakistan in the finals of the Asia Cup, T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav will arrive to a hero’s welcome in Goa, to attend the inauguration of a private cricket stadium at Verna IDC on Tuesday.
The newly built ‘1919 Sportz Cricket Stadium’ at Verna IDC in Loutolim will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, with cricket enthusiasts from across the State expected to turn up in large numbers to catch a glimpse of the Indian T20 captain and to witness the landmark moment.
The stadium is the brainchild of Chicalim sarpanch and builder Kamla Prasad Yadav, a computer engineer by profession, who has invested his personal resources and passion into creating what is being claimed as Goa’s most advanced cricketing infrastructure to date.
Dream turned into reality
The 1919 Sportz Cricket Stadium boasts facilities that rival professional venues in larger cities. The ground has nine pitches, floodlights to enable day-night matches, and an initial seating capacity of 5,000.
Plans are already in place to expand the stadium to accommodate 30,000 spectators in the coming years, far exceeding the 15,000-seat benchmark required for hosting international matches.
Speaking about his vision at a press conference, Kamla Prasad Yadav said, “When my children, Harshita and Veer, first began playing cricket, I realised how limited the infrastructure in Goa was.”
“There were hardly any professional grounds that matched the standards needed for serious training. That’s when I felt something must be done, not only for my children, but for every aspiring cricketer in this State.”
Harshita today captains the Goa women’s cricket team, while Veer is also turning heads at the state level. Their rise in cricket was a major inspiration behind Yadav’s decision to create the stadium.
“This project is very close to my heart. The name ‘1919’ itself has a special meaning for me. It reflects the birth dates of my two children, both born on the 19th. It’s a reminder that this ground is not just about cricket, but about nurturing the dreams of young players and giving them opportunities that my children once struggled to find,” Yadav added.
Designed for accessibility, inclusivity
One of the key features of the stadium is its location. Centrally placed at Verna IDC, the ground is easily accessible from Panaji, Vasco, Margao and Ponda, making it a hub for cricketers from every corner of the State.
But beyond world-class infrastructure, Yadav has a much deeper mission. He has announced plans to establish a residential cricket academy on the same premises, alongside a coaching centre with free training programmes and transportation facilities for underprivileged children.
“Goa has immense talent, but many youngsters cannot afford proper training or even travel to coaching centres. My dream is to remove those barriers. We are starting free coaching programmes, and a bus service will be introduced so that no child is denied the chance to learn because of financial or logistical challenges,” Yadav explained.
Boost for Goa’s cricketing landscape
With Chief Minister Pramod Sawant inaugurating the stadium and Suryakumar Yadav gracing the occasion as guest of honour, the event is being seen as a turning point for Goa’s sporting ecosystem.
The Indian skipper’s presence is expected to inspire hundreds of budding cricketers who will get their first glimpse of a truly professional facility in their own backyard.
Yadav said that he hopes the ground will serve as a launchpad for many future stars.
“My dream is that this facility helps unearth potential cricketers from Goa and gives them the opportunity they deserve. With initiatives like our Prime Minister’s Khelo India programme, more children are now taking up sports and aspiring to compete internationally. If private individuals like us can contribute in our own small ways, we can collectively take India’s sporting journey to greater heights, for our state and for our country," he said.
As floodlights illuminate the Verna IDC skyline on Tuesday evening and cheers echo through the stands, the 1919 Sportz Cricket Stadium will mark not just its inauguration but the beginning of a new chapter for cricket in Goa.
