VASCO
The Goa Cricket Association (GCA) will soon develop the Mormugao Port Authority Ground at Baina, after an MOU is signed with the MPA.
Speaking to reporters after meeting MPA Dy Chairman along with GCA Officials on Tuesday evening, Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar said the GCA will add lawns, nets and even set up an academy to train upcoming cricketers on the ground.
"We met MPA Dy Chairman G P Rai along with GCA officials with a proposal to develop the MPA Ground which once hosted Ranji Trophy and First class cricket matches but has been neglected now.”
“We had so many Ranji players from Vasco while playing on this MPA Grounds and the GCA has taken an initiative to develop the ground offered to them and based on their request, I met the MPA Dy Chairman G P Rai.”
“The MPA has agreed in principle to hand over the ground to the GCA after completing the process before March and signing an MOU to take over the ground by April.”
“The ground will be a training place for budding cricketers and also be made available to locals and the dream will come true in a matter of few months," said Amonkar.
GCA joint secretary Rupesh Naik said it was his dream to develop the MPA ground if given a choice and he had placed the proposal to the GCA management.
"MPA Dy Chairman GP Rai had played a match last week at this ground and that is when he realised that such a huge asset was not taken care of and he immediately told us to give them our proposal. GCA has already made a pitch on this ground and the GCA will develop the ground by April and set up nets, lawns, turf wickets and develop this into a standard ground," said Naik.
Former Ranji Player and GCA Member Seby Fernandes said that GCA may even set up a coaching academy for budding sportsmen.
"I am extremely happy that our proposal and follow-up has paid off with the help of our MLA Sankalp Amonkar. As a cricketer I played on this ground and GCA will create the infrastructure to set up an academy to train budding cricketers under good coaches. We will have separate coaching for batting and bowling here and this will be a great opportunity for budding cricketers in Goa," said Fernandes.
