Residents seek clarity on management and coaching at SAG cricket net practice facility
PANAJI
Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) has assured to depute its cricket and athletics coaches to Cuncolim for the first time in many years at Government School Football ground taking into account the growing demands of sports persons and officials of the village.
“We will be sending our cricket and athletics coaches to Cuncolim, shortly,” informed a top official of SAG.
The facility has been built at the cost of nearly 17 lakhs’ along with a jumping pit for athletics and will be maintained by SAG, sources said. Two wickets are provided in the cricket net training facility.
“The modalities and paper work for the same has been worked out,” added the official.
SAG has close to over 70 coaches based all over the state in different disciplines with football and cricket having close to 20 coaches while tennis ball cricket has about 10 coaches.
The need for SAG to depute a coach to Cuncolim arose with the opening of the new cricket net training facility on March 2.
Concerns had been raised about coaching support — specifically whether SAG will appoint qualified coaches at the venue or if local trainers will be given the responsibility.
SAG's move to depute coaches in cricket and athletics has been welcomed by Cuncolim Hockey President Oscar Martins, who is also a key member of Cuncolim Union, a club registered with Goa Football Association.
“Cuncolim and the surrounding villages of Assolna, Velim and Chinchinim along with Cuncolim have a lot of talent which needs proper guidance and training, we welcome the move by SAG to depute coaches. Our school physical education teachers of various AVCC schools are doing a great job of nurturing talent and if SAG coaches are deputed it will be short in the arm for these teachers,” he said.
Incidentally only a female volleyball coach attached to SAG is training players while children in other sports are training on their own at private coaches, thereby exposing the missing links in terms of coaches in Cuncolim.
Even as the facility is welcomed by the community, several questions have emerged regarding its functioning and maintenance. Residents have sought clarity on whether a designated authority which will manage bookings for the nets or if the facility will be open to all without regulation.
Former Goa off-spinner Nitin Kalekar — the only cricketer from Cuncolim to have represented the state in the prestigious Ranji Trophy — has expressed his willingness to contribute to the development of young players. Kalekar, who previously served as a coach with SAG and later spent time in the United States before returning to Goa, said he is ready to guide aspiring cricketers from the region.
Meanwhile, it is noteworthy that no club from Cuncolim is currently registered with the Goa Cricket Association (GCA). Navadeep SC Fatorpa from a neighbouring village had earlier participated in GCA tournaments but reportedly lost its registration due to internal disputes.
At present, the only club registered with the GCA from the Assolna–Velim–Cuncolim–Chinchinim–Balli–Fatorpa belt is the Social Welfare Club (SWC) of Zaino-Velim, which is also affiliated with the Goa Football Association.
With the new facility now operational, residents are hopeful that proper management, structured coaching and club-level participation will follow, ensuring that Cuncolim produces more cricketers capable of representing Goa at the state and national levels.
