MARGAO
In sports, many individuals work away from the spotlight but they derive their motivation from the appreciation and praise of people truly associated with the job. Raju Adpaikar falls into that category but the senior supervisor at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda has seldom complained.
The stadium is a well-known sports facility in the country and has hosted major events like the Under-17 FIFA World Cup in 2019, Lusofonia Games in 2014, international football friendlies, international cricket matches, and major domestic football league matches. Over the years, Raju has been directly or indirectly involved in hosting these events.
“The magnitude of the event doesn't matter for me. The most important is the facilities that have to be presented and the most vital part is the playing surface. Over the years, Goa has given the best of playing ground to international and national teams. This legacy has to be maintained anyhow and I am duty-bound for this,” explained Raju.
Raju is one of the most senior staff of Nehru Stadium and also an accomplished sportsperson who got the job very deservedly. He was a national kabaddi player and represented Goa a record 15 times, being the captain of the state. He was also a top handball player and played alongside some well-known players like former India coach Savio Madeira, Gurudas Vernekar (former stadium manager), Uday Hegde (the ex-goalkeeper of RCF, Mumbai) and present SAG Executive Director VM Prabhudessai, who was the captain of the team.
With his challenging task, Raju has worked silently, innovating changes on the playfield and pitches and he feels very proud of the new changes he brought for cricket. For years, the cricket crease was marked with lime powder and the constant use of white coat naturally makes a thick layer, which sometimes was uncomfortable for the batsman. Raju, while hosting a One-day international match at Nehru Stadium surprised the cricket officials by marking the crease with white paint. This innovative idea was perhaps implemented for the first time in the country and was appreciated by none other than the well-known cricket umpire Simon Taufel, who was to officiate the match between India and Sri Lanka.
"It was a heartening moment. He came up to me and said, 'I have not seen this type of marking anywhere in India... it's good.'
“I always remember that and it motivates me to do well and give my best to the sports,” Raju said.
Raju recalled his formative days during which he got ample support and encouragement from SAG Executive Director V M Prabhudessai and former general secretary of AIFF Alberto Colaco and the Goa Football Association. The Nehru Stadium being the hub of football in those days Raju was instrumental in discarding the old goal post and nets and installed modern goalposts and nets which are used for the FIFA-approved football tournaments.
Having more than 30 years of service on the ground and complexes of SAG, Raju is experienced enough to advise the new generations. "There is always good scope for sports in the State but it has to be taken seriously with an aim to achieve. Anyone can come up with hard work and dedication.”
