PANAJI
Hockey Olympians of Goan-origin and Arjuna awardees Merwyn Fernandes and Joaquim Carvalho visit a number of schools in North Goa as part of their plan to develop and promote the game in the state.
The two Olympians, who have helped Fr. Agnel Multipurpose High School Verna launched a unique path breaking youth development program are very keen to take hockey movement forward and spread throughout the state.
As per their grand plans the two are keen to give their expertise and technical know-how of running a coaching program to schools all over Goa.
The two are banking on a coaching program which does not affect the after-school hours activities of school students.
The hockey coaching will be held for school students during the school hours and will form a part of the school curriculum, the pilot project which has been launched at the Pilar Fathers’ Verna school on February 24.
The two Olympians spent one day visiting Don Bosco HS Panjim, Don Bosco Primary School, Odxel, MBBS Home, Paliem, Ucassaim, St Anthony's HS, Monte de Guirim and Holy Cross HS, Bastora to make the head of institutions familiarize with the working of the youth development program which will be run by coaches attached to Mavericks Sports Club, under the supervision of the two Olympians, the clubs which is headed by Industrialist Atul Pai Kane.
Joaquim and Merwyn met Fr Avin Carvalho, Principal of Don Bosco HS Panjim, Fr Tony Alemao, Principal of Don Bosco Primary School, Odxel, Fr Jose Sequeira, Director of MBBS Home, Paliem, Ucassaim, Sr Wendy Sequeira principal of Holy Cross HS, Bastora and Fr. Milchester Furtado, Principal of St Anthony's HS, Monte de Guirim.
“Most of the school heads we met during the course of our North Goa visits where very excited and happy and jumped on to the idea of coaching the students during school hours and during the Physical Education periods,” said Joaquim Carvalho, who incidentally got his first hockey lessons during his school days in Mumbai.
“The good thing about coaching the school students during the PE period is that they do not have to come to school especially for the training.”
“With students going for tuitions, coming for training after school hours is a challenge which most schools face in Goa,” Joaquim said.
The two Olympians also met a number of club representatives from North Goa and gave them advice on how to promote the game and give exposure to the talent besides year-round competitions for the youngsters.
“There is a need to have matches and tournaments throughout the year for these youngsters one state league is not enough,” Joaquim said.
“I have suggested to the clubs to host tournaments every month, in rotation so that the players have match practice which will go a long way in improving the game in the state and much needed match exposure for the boys and girls,” added Joaquim, who has served as national team coach, captain and selector.
Joaquim said he and Merwyn will be coming to Goa quite often to monitor the youth development programmes at different schools and a detailed plan is in place to take the game forward on different fronts.
