Grade 8 student of Damodar English HS scored spectacular goal in recently held Hockey India Sub-Junior West Zone championship in Gujarat
Rally Rodrigues handing over the hockey stick and other material to Ansh Gaonkar.
MARGAO
Ansh Gaonkar, a student of Damodar English High School Gudi Paroda, who scored a superlative goal at the Hockey India Sub-Junior West Zone championship in Gujarat in July this year has got a full hockey kit worth over Rs.20,000 former Olympian Joaquim Carvalho.
The Goa-origin former international, who traces his roots to Assolna village of Salcete Taluka, decided to sponsor the complete hockey kit after reading reports of his super goal in The Goan and thereafter other articles about him in the local website which highlighted the talented boy’s goal scoring feat in Surat and the promise he holds in the years to come.
The Grade 8 student, who trains every day without fail, come rain or shine, on the dirt and pebble laden village ground close to his school and home every day, dribbled his way past seven players to score the only goal for Goa in the 11–1 loss to Chhattisgarh Hockey.
“The boy needs all the encouragement and support in the years to come, and hopefully this small gesture to give him the complete hockey kit will motivate him and other players from Goa to improve the game,” added the Mumbai-based Carvalho, while talking to The Goan.
Ansh collected the kit from Rally Rodrigues, Proprietor of Star Light restaurant in Assolna, who handed over sports equipment on behalf of the Carvalho to the talented boy.
Ansh got 2 hockey sticks, shoes, 4 shirts, 2 shorts, 2 stocking, slippers, wrist bands, shin guards, hockey combi bag, water bottle, hockey balls, knuckle guard and supporters.
Asked if he will be willing to support more talented Goan players in the future, Carvalho replied in the affirmative.
“I am ready to help the young players not only with kit but whatever help they need from time to time.”
He also informed that two more talented players from Goa will also get full hockey in the coming days, which will reach Goa from Mumbai.
“I am willing to help this Gudi school of Ansh, with hockey sticks and goalkeeper kit,” he added.
Carvalho said he will visit the school on his next visit and he is looking forward to holding a coaching clinic for the school students along with another Olympian of Goan-origin Merwyn Fernandes.
“Both of us (Merwyn and Joaquim) are open to conducting a coaching clinic for the Gudi School when we are in Goa,” added Carvalho.
The suggestion by Carvalho to help the Gudi school in terms of equipment and technical expertise was welcomed by Sandeep Redkar.
“It will be a privilege and honour to host the two Olympians, Joaquim Carvalho and Merwyn Fernandes, in our school, seldom you get these opportunities to meet such greats and that too, two of them at one place at one venue.”
“For the students and for the staff at the school it will be a memorable moment, I am eagerly looking forward to it along with the school students, teachers and other management of the school.”
Redkar welcomed Carvalho’s gesture to give the full kit to Ansh.
“Here our Physical Education Teachers at school Amit Dessai and Laxman Prabudessai at Higher Secondary School are doing a great job in promoting talent against all odds without any support from Goans Hockey or from the state government and this move of Carvalho will motivate more young players from Gudi to take up the game after they come to hear and read Ansh's story.”
