For one of the oldest club in Goa, Crown Club based in SantaCruz it is turning out to be an interesting time with several changes in theoffing this year. Victor Gonsalves, President of the club and his band ofofficials are planning to change the nature of the club that came intoexistence in 1938. A regular in the third division football division, this yearwill see the launch of a U-16 football team.
This initiative is meant to tap the youth and make them takeup the sport. All along like many other clubs in the state, there were playersfrom other villages in the team but from next year when more age specific teamswill be launched, only players from the village will be selected, statedGonsalves. The new senior team has players from colleges and players from thesecondary school.
Old players have been replaced this year and the new team isworking at trying to move up the division. Practice is not a daily occurrencebut it coincides with the announcement of dates of village tournaments. It is coordinated by senior players who arein charge of the session. The young stars will be motivated by the example ofGuesepe Remedios who moved to Vasco Sports Club after beginning at the CrownClub and Jhonny Araujo who donned the national colors.
The management spends approximately Rs. 40-50,000 every yearon players’ kits, transport and snacks for the team when they participate intournaments. Now with players being paid approximately Rs.1000 per match, thereis further pressure to balance the books. In addition the club is synonymous with volleyball in the state. At onepoint of time the 75 percent of the state volleyball team at the nationalsconsisted of players from the club.
Even today players from the club are called to India camps,he said. With the club set to celebrate its 75thanniversary next year plans are afoot to conduct a national level volleyballtournament subject to the availability of the national stars.
