PANAJI
GoansHockey President Abhay Bhamaikar feels that the standard of GoansHockey has improved a lot in the last couple of years.
Inan exclusive interview with TheGoan, Bhamaikar spoke aboutdifferent areas pertaining to Goans Hockey from grass-root leveldevelopment program to construction of a new hockey ground in SouthGoa, establishment of Hockey Academy in Goa to standard of GoansHockey.
“Itook over as President of Goans Hockey on 15 August 2024. Under myleadership, we have participated in more than 10 championships. Inall the 10 championships together, we have conceded around 70 goalsand scored around 40-45 goals. In addition to that, success rate isalmost around 70-80 %. We have played around altogether 40 games andwe must have won around 25-30 of those games,” Bhamaikar told TheGoan.
Hefurther added, “I am very happy that as President of Goans Hockey,I could contribute to my state and that gives me a different feelingthat Goans Hockey is in a different zone now. The standard hasdefinitely improved in the last couple of years. Now, four teams ofGoans Hockey are in Division B – Sub-Junior Boys and Girls, JuniorGirls and Senior Men whereas Junior Boys and Senior Women are inDivision C. Now, we are putting more efforts so that the teams canqualify to Division A.”
Bhamaikaralso revealed plans of grass-root level development program for GoansHockey.
Hesaid, “Goans Hockey as a part of grass-root level developmentprogram will be organizing its first sub-junior boys Goans HockeyLeague wherein 12 teams from 12 talukas will be participating. Beforethat, there will be a 21-day camp in all the 12 talukas. In the camp,diet will be provided and it will be a coaching camp.”
“Fromthe league we are going to pick a core group of 25 players and fromthat 25, we will be choosing 18 players who will represent the state.We want the players to increase their stamina, then the intention ofthe sub-junior league will be fulfilled,” Bhamaikar said.
“Ifthe sub-junior league comes, it will surely be going to create animpact for Goans Hockey. Because the players from sub-junior teamwill automatically play for junior team one day and then the juniorteam will play for senior team in the near future. So, they will getgood amount of time to improve their skill.”
Bhamaikarfurther added, “We are also trying to train around 20 umpires. InGoa, there are very few umpires. The standard of the game isincreasing. So, in a game of tight competition, the role of an umpireis important and Goans Hockey feel that we need to increase thenumber of trained umpires in Goa.”
Accordingto Bhamaikar, there are plans to organize Artificial Intelligence /Machine Learning workshop in the near future.
Hesaid, “Goans Hockey in association with Hockey India, SAG and DYSAis planning to organize its first international conference on role ofAI and ML in order to promote hockey and understand how the game ofthe players can be analyzed technically. In addition to that, we willtry to get some more people, experts from IIT, NIT to deliver keynote speeches. Approximately around 200-300 participants we areexpecting. This event mostly will happen in the month of August.”
Creationof a new hockey ground at Fatorda in South Goa is one of the prioritythings which is in Bhamaikar’s mind.
“Themain reason why I came in contact with Goans Hockey was because ofthe South Goa ground. The proposal was given to DYSA, the file wasalso cleared by Dr. Pramod Sawant, Honourable Chief Minister of Goa.I hope that with the help of present Director, Dr. Ajay Gaude,Honourable Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar, I hope the ground getsconceptualized soon. Because as you know that the players fromSanguem, Quepem, Canacona, due to their stamina and body structurethey fit in the line of hockey. But unfortunately, since we do nothave a hockey turf in the south, it becomes difficult for them totravel to North Goa for daily practice and training. I hope thedepartment takes necessary action and the ground becomes a realitysoon at Fatorda. The ground has been allotted to us but has not beenhanded over to us. With the help of CSR and money from other sources,we can build the ground.”
Bhamaikarfurther mentioned that, “Two things we are lacking. One is, we needa good academy. I am in talks with few major players, one for academyat Guirim in North Goa. In Guirim, they have their own ground, turfand hostel and another one at Canacona in South Goa.”
“Thereare many hockey enthusiasts as well as players who are having passionfor the game are working individually. So, on behalf of Goans Hockey,I request them to let’s join our hands together and work in theinterest of hockey in Goa and take hockey to the next level in thestate. If more hands come together in Goa itself, we will be able tocreate international level players in the near future. In the nexttwo years, we can try to have least 2-3 players from Goa in theIndian camp,” Bhamaikar said.
