MARGAO
The villages of Assolna and Velim have been a cradle of hockey, having produced champions like Allen D'Souza, Ray D'Souza, Gerald D'Silva, Sabino Rodrigues, Shailesh Naik, Irfan Balbati and Mushtaq Balbati (footballer), who went on to win for the State.
Many Assolnakars, with its rich sports tradition, have contributed enormously to the Goan sports. The village has produced many sportspersons who have brought laurels to the State and the village with their stupendous performance.
Cuncolim Hockey Club (CHC) has shifted gears and has stepped away from the boundaries of Cuncolim and entered neighbouring Velim village with the goal of promoting the game in different schools of Assolna, Velim, Cuncolim and Chinchinim (AVCC).
On Friday, the first stopover for coach Glestone Fernandes of CHC happened at St Xavier’s High School, Velim. With the full backing and encouragement of Headmistress Mabel da Costa and physical education teacher Edelbert, around 20 students of the school took baby steps in the game of hockey.
“It was a great first day for hockey in Velim. The children were excited to take up the game. Thanks to the wonderful support of Headmistress Mabel da Costa and PE teacher Edelbert, this was possible,” said Glestone, who learnt his hockey as a boarder in Goa and thereafter in Mumbai.
As a player, he continued his Indian playing experience in Oman where he worked for many years and has since returned to Goa and made it his passion to spread a sporting culture in his home village in Cuncolim, starting with hockey, and also encouraging children to take up other sports like basketball and football through various village level clubs.
The AVCC project has the backing of a few Goan Olympians -- Joaquim Carvalho, Clarence Lobo and Merwyn Fernandis, who have already provided hockey sticks and balls for CHC. The club shortlists and finds venues in and around AVCC to train the children, with focus on 5-a-side hockey, a version which has become quite popular on the global stage.
There is a plan to train more youngsters to be coaches and also provide payment for the hockey coaches. With St Xavier’s High School, Velim the first stop for hockey in AVCC schools, more schools will be part of the plan. The other schools which have shown keen interest in grassroots programme in Cuncolim are Our Lady of Health HS, Cuncolim, Infant Jesus High School, Cuncolim and Cuncolim United High School.
“We have got a good response from the Cuncolim schools and we will be approaching a few schools in Assolna and Chinchinim, so that the movement spreads throughout Velim, Assolna, Cuncolim and Chnchinim,” added Glestone.
Incidentally, Glestone was instrumental in starting Cuncolim Hockey club in Cuncolim in 2014 but the club went into cold storage on account of political interference but was revived this year. The club has been crowdfunded by Goans based in different parts of the world, and also by Goan Olympians and local Goans. A few footballers and cricketers, present and past, have chipped in to make it a success.
Around 40, both boys and girls, are training on a regular basis at Cuncolim Union Sports Complex under the guidance of Glestone every Sunday. Cuncolim Hockey have a couple of girl players, Brunila Andrade and Farissa Nunes, who have already represented the State in the all-India national championship.
