PANAJI
Hockey India, the parent body controlling the game in the country, should be adopting schools in Goa excelling at the school level and support them financially and with technical knowledge if they want to raise the level of the game in the State, said Fr George Nandiyala, of the Pilar Fathers.
Fr George, a hockey player himself, who is based in Honda village of Sattari, is overseeing the training of over 80 boys and girls in the North Goa village, since June this year.
“Hockey India should be adopting schools from rural areas which have a lot of talented players,” said Fr George.
Of the students training at Honda under the 'Pilar Fathers Sports for Youth Development’ project, they do not have a full-size ground and play on a ground full of small pebbles, but that is not keeping them away from playing the game day in and day out, rain or shine.
The Pilar Fathers are looking to upgrade the infrastructure for Honda HS students with support from well-wishers.
“Pilar Fathers are planning to have some basic infrastructure in place. The plan is to have at least 9-a-side hockey ground and a place for tuition for the school children of Honda HS, Honda. There is not much sports infrastructure at the school campus except two poles to practice kho kho,” said Fr George. “Before the introduction of hockey in the school it was all about kabaddi and kho kho,” he adds.
“The factor for being the powerhouse for sports is the positivity and encouragement of the Headmaster, hard work of the PE teacher and tireless work of the Society of Pilar and the coach. They have put in efforts to make this game interesting and get the children out from the world of mobile phones to the playfield,” says Fr George.
“As a hockey player, I see a great future for these young children of Sattari. They are strong and hard-working. We will surely get great players in future from Sattari,” he adds.
