Playing football in the fields around Mormugoa as childrenand then as young men was a satisfying experience but the urge to do more wasvery persistent. Darshan Konwalkar amember of present management of Rising Sports Club, who was one of theboys kicking a ball around then said that he felt the need of setting up a club in the area to provide aplatform to young boys interested in playing football.
He said “We had to take the plunge and in 2010 we registeredthe club and filed the necessary papers. This we felt would be the right thingto do for all the young football players.”
Like all clubs established in the villages of Goa,recruiting players, keeping them interested in the team is a battle. The teamis comprised of players from Sada, Vasco and other nearby areas, players whowork and play and those who have left college to try and make a mark in thesport in the state. Darshan said “We spend approximately Rs. 15,000 everymatch. We have to pay the players. They demand Rs. 500 or more per match and inaddition we have to provide them with transport, kit and snacks. If we wantthem to stay we have to pay them, otherwise they just leave.”
The availability of finance is a cloud that hangs over the club.This sometimes requires them to organize tournaments to generate funds or lookto local sponsors like Milind Naik who is the Power minister in the presentgovernment. At times the members of the club pool in funds to pay the players. Since they are in the third division, moniesare always tight and salaries are a tenth of first division clubs. The teammembers have to work during the day and then meet after 6 o clock everyday topractice with coach Nilesh Navikar. The team, it is understood, has greatpotential with a lot of talent. Milind Shinds came out this squad to command aspot in the Vasco Sports Club squad. Two other players were targeted by thesame club but family problems hindered their progress and they ended up losingtheir chance.
This year the club won all their five matches in the thirddivision and lost on penalty kicks in the face-off for promotion to the seconddivision. Officials governing the game in the state regularly complain that village clubs are notinterested in participating in tournaments outside their village. But Darshan said the club participated intournaments all over the state. He said “We want everyone to notice the qualityof our players. This could then mean more chances for them and more top notchclubs perhaps hiring them. We want clubs like Dempo, Mohun Bagan to have ourplayers. We are very clear about that”.
Money may not flow but talent it seems can be found inabundance in their ranks and for the management of Rising Sports Clubs this maybe a source of solace.
