BY ARMSTRONG VAZ
The all-season indoor training facility at Nirakar Education Society’s ground, the home venue of Mashem Cricket Club, kindled high hopes among cricket fans and aspiring cricketers when it was opened in 2011.
But 13 years down the line, the facility started and funded by Goa Cricket Association (GCA) is begging for attention from the same association that is responsible for all matters related to the game in the State.
GCA, allege locals, has failed to maintain the indoor pitch facility with the rooftop in tatters and needing immediate attention. “When it comes to repairing the shelter and restoring it for practice all-year round, Goa Cricket Association has neglected this facility for the last few years,” said a parent of a cricketer, who is studying in the nearby higher secondary.
But there is a hope round the corner with GCA Secretary Rohan Gauns Dessai assuring that the facility will be repaired on ‘urgent’ basis. “We acknowledge the urgency of the situation. The matter of repairing the nets will be thoroughly discussed and resolved in an upcoming meeting of the managing committee,” said Rohan, speaking to GT Digital.
He said GCA has upgraded a number of facilities at the venue over the years. “In the previous managing committee meeting, it was decided that the local vice president and treasurer would oversee the maintenance of the Mashem ground. Significant efforts have been made to enhance the ground’s infrastructure, including installation of a water tank. Additionally, two groundskeepers are actively working on the ground,” he said.
The net facility in Mashem, started by cash-rich GCA in this far-off village of Canacona taluka situated close to the border with Karnataka, was expected to groom and provide facilities for the young talent and Rohan said GCA has been moving in the right direction.
The venue of the ground is also an educational hub with a school, higher secondary and college in the locality and is thus an ideal place to tap and groom talent.
“As for coaching staff, Bharti Gaonkar has been deployed by the GCA as a regular coach at Mashem ground. However, we are currently awaiting information regarding the coaching staff deployed by the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) in Canacona,” he said.
Bharati represented the State in cricket in U-18, U-19, U-21, U-23 and senior level and is physical education teacher Shailendra Naik’s protégé. She got her initial training in the game from him while studying in higher secondary.
“Besides the Indoor training facility, the venue has two turf pitches and a 30-yard circle,” informed Sudesh Prabhudessai, a member of Mashem Cricket Club and a cricket player.
The venue also hosts one of the oldest tournaments in the state – the Late Nanda Loyelkar trophy – which completed 41 years last year and is on course to completing a golden jubilee.
The taluka has three registered clubs, Maratha Warriors, Mashem Cricket Club and Polem Cricket Club registered with GCA. Two of the Executive Committee members -- Daya Pagi and Shamba Dessai -- of GCA are from the taluka.
Canacona has three registered clubs, Maratha Warriors, Mashem Cricket Club and Polem Cricket Club registered with GCA. Two of the Executive Committee members -- Daya Pagi and Shamba Dessai -- of GCA are from the taluka.
Regarding further plans for the taluka, Rohan said, “The GCA intends to organise summer coaching camps in Canacona, contingent upon various factors such as resource availability and demand for coaching in the area.”
Recently, at a sports conclave in Goa, GCA President Vipul Phadke had asserted that lack of a ground hinders the growth of cricket in the State. But in case of Mashem, existing infrastructure where time and money have been invested has been neglected.
Recently, at a sports conclave in Goa, GCA President Vipul Phadke had asserted that lack of a ground hinders the growth of cricket in the State.
If Mashem ground has a GCA cricket coach, no worthy coach has been deputed either by SAG or GCA at the Agonda Sports Complex since the retirement of Ulhas Dessai, a SAG coach, leaving children in the village to train on their own.
“The area has a few schools and has abundant talent in football, cricket and athletics. But the natural talent of these boys and girls is not noticed as there are no proper coaches deputed by SAG,” said a parent, who witnessed an under-14 cricket game between a visiting team from Margao and Agonda cricketers.
Cricket fans, however, have pinned high hopes on Shamba and Daya, to bring a change in cricket coaching fortunes in Canacona taluka with their clout in GCA. However, a few clubs are skeptical of the GCA approach when it comes to registering new clubs from the taluka.
“There is one more club, called Canacona Sports & Cultural Club, which has Janardhan Bhandari as its president. The club applied for GCA registration long back but till date the same has not been granted. The club organises many cricket coaching camps and the Shubham Naik cricket tournament,” said a cricket lover from the taluka.