BY A GT SPORTS REPORTER
PANJIM: The Goa Cricket Association (GCA) has decided to shift focus to the under-12 and under-14 segment of the game.
Dayanand Narvekar, the president of GCA said that beginning from Monday a month-long exercise to tap talent (U-12, U-14 boys and women) would get underway at 12 centres in the state.
The centers include Mashem, Curchorem, Shiroda, Ponda, Bogda (Vasco), Aldona, Chapora, Mapusa, Sanquelim, Bicholim, Kancholem and Pernem. About 500 boys and girls are expected to turn out for the training schedule.
The camps would be conducted by 20 SAG coaches, who will oversee the training during the first quarter after which the number would be pruned to 15 in each category at each center. The second quarter would involve matches involving teams from all centers.
“So far we have concentrated on the under-13 players and then on to U-14 players. But we’ve found out during the last two years that though we have good players in the U-19 (category) basic talent was not available in the under-14 (section),” Narvekar said before adding that the idea of laying stress on the U-12 group was arrived at after a presentation made by Sandeep Naik.
Narvekar also informed that 5 GCA coaches, including the newest addition, Avinash Aware, will be supervising the camp. The SAG coaches would be paid a remuneration of Rs 10,000 each, while every club organizing the camp at the 12 centres would be given Rs 15000 in addition to the playing equipment.
Apart from Aware, and Raghuram Bhat (spin coach), who is already training the 25 players at Porvorim, Milind Gunjal will join the GCA roster as batting coach from April 5.
“The camp is not for GCA players, it is free for anybody and anybody,” Narvekar stressed.
At the end of the exercise, the GCA would retain 50 players in each category for further training, the GCA chief informed.
The GCA is also set to make functional its residential cricket academy at Porvorim (DIET ground) from July 2009. “The work is going on in full swing and it will take another 3 months to finish,” Narvekar said, while detailing out the parameters (of the sports policty) that would be required to make the participation more effective.
A gymnasium costing about Rs 80 lakh is also being put up at Povorim, according to Narvekar, who also spoke of `extensive laying of pitches’ at Porvorim, Shiroda and BITS Pilani (Sancoale), saying these are all turf grounds, which are done by noted BCCI (South Zone) curator Vishwanathan.
The mud for these pitches is being brought from the Godavari basin in Hyderabad, which would render them (pitches) sporting and expect a lot of bounce.
Goa may host ODI this year
If the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) sticks to its rotation policy for awarding international matches, Goa would in all probability be awarded one in October this year.
Narvekar, said that Goa would be allotted an ODI involving either Australia or Sri Lanka, though the BCCI is yet to name the venues for matches during the visit of both the teams.
Preferring to host the Australia match, Narvekar said that the GCA has already alerted the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) and would take charge of the ground from May 20 so as to relay the entire pitch and get it ready in time for the ODI.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Willy unhappy with choice of Deshprabhu?
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: Is Dr Wilfred de Souza unhappy with the decision to nominate Jitendra Deshprabhu as the NCP candidate for the North Goa parliamentary seat?
During a press conference, held on Thursday, the state NCP president evaded a direct reply whether he was happy with Deshprabhu's candidature or otherwise. "Persons meant to be happy are the people of Goa, North Goa in particular. It is their wish. If they wish, he (Deshprabhu) will win," said Dr de Souza.
When asked to judge Deshprabhu's candidature on the grounds of 'winnability', Dr de Souza replied, "Deshprabhu has been a member of the Goa legislative Assembly for two terms. I have seen his performance. His performance as a legislator is satisfactory. Under the present circumstances, I don't know what will be the impression in the minds of the people...whether happy or not, we have chosen a candidate. Now, we will have to work."
Elaborating further about the absence of a candidate from the NCP to contest the LS elections, Dr de Souza recounted the decisions of the State Executive Committee. "We had sent six names proposed by the state NCP Executive Committee. It was considered by the party High Command and they chose a third person (Deshprabhu)."
He also denied any compromise formula worked out between himself and the party High Command. "No. There is no compromise formula. My High Command and the Congress High Command decided on a coalition...they decided that we want a winnable candidate. We all sat and arrived at a formula."
Elaborating on the happenings at the national level and other such coalitions with the Congress which have fallen apart, Dr Willy informed that he received a message on Sunday from the NCP party High Command about sewing up the coalition at the state level. "Once I got the signal, I got in touch with Chief Minister Digambar Kamat. It was decided that a consensus candidate who will win has to be fielded.
PANJIM: Is Dr Wilfred de Souza unhappy with the decision to nominate Jitendra Deshprabhu as the NCP candidate for the North Goa parliamentary seat?
During a press conference, held on Thursday, the state NCP president evaded a direct reply whether he was happy with Deshprabhu's candidature or otherwise. "Persons meant to be happy are the people of Goa, North Goa in particular. It is their wish. If they wish, he (Deshprabhu) will win," said Dr de Souza.
When asked to judge Deshprabhu's candidature on the grounds of 'winnability', Dr de Souza replied, "Deshprabhu has been a member of the Goa legislative Assembly for two terms. I have seen his performance. His performance as a legislator is satisfactory. Under the present circumstances, I don't know what will be the impression in the minds of the people...whether happy or not, we have chosen a candidate. Now, we will have to work."
Elaborating further about the absence of a candidate from the NCP to contest the LS elections, Dr de Souza recounted the decisions of the State Executive Committee. "We had sent six names proposed by the state NCP Executive Committee. It was considered by the party High Command and they chose a third person (Deshprabhu)."
He also denied any compromise formula worked out between himself and the party High Command. "No. There is no compromise formula. My High Command and the Congress High Command decided on a coalition...they decided that we want a winnable candidate. We all sat and arrived at a formula."
Elaborating on the happenings at the national level and other such coalitions with the Congress which have fallen apart, Dr Willy informed that he received a message on Sunday from the NCP party High Command about sewing up the coalition at the state level. "Once I got the signal, I got in touch with Chief Minister Digambar Kamat. It was decided that a consensus candidate who will win has to be fielded.
Cong-NCP will bag both seats: Kamat
BY A GT REPORTER
MARGAO: A gung-ho Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat, on Thursday (April 2) exuded confidence that Congress nominee in South Goa, the sitting MP, Francisco Sardinha and, Congress-NCP combine would net both the seats from Goa in the April 23 Lok Sabha polls.
Addressing the media soon after Sardinha filed his nominations for the South Goa parliamentary seat, Kamat recalled that Sardinha had scored a 40,000-vote victory in the 2007 by-poll despite the low turnout, and that in the Pale assembly bye-poll, too, Congress' Pratap Gawas won comfortably.
“Even if the voter turnout is just 60 per cent, the party will get a 80,000-vote lead in South Goa," Kamat said.
Sardinha, who is contesting the seat for the third time said, “everyone is united and Congress will win without doubt.”
The BJP has already conceded defeat, he said pointing out to remarks attributed to BJP's national leader Sushma Sawaraj in Madhya Pradesh (MP).
Replying to questions, Sardinha claimed he released Rs 72-75 lakh for development works in the last one-and-a-half year in the constituency, including distributing computers and projectors to schools under the MPLAD scheme.
Sardinha also admitted his failure to fulfill the assurance on 'dhirios', but added that he did introduce a private member's bill in Parliament which has lapsed. "Being the property of the House it will be re-introduced when elected, in the very first session," he promised.
Other priorities listed on his agenda, Sardinha said, were a parallel Zuari bridge as well as the twin bridges across the Talpona and Galgibag rivers in Canacona taluka that would complete the “golden quadrilateral.”
Delhi to decide Churchill's fate
"We live in a democracy,” was GPCC chief, Subhash Shirodkar’s response to a query whether the meeting organised by PWD Minister Churchill Alemao in Margao would attract disciplinary action. He said responsibility to deal with the situation lay with the high command.
Kamat however clarified, “The Congress candidate is always declared by the person in-charge of the respective AICC desk in the Delhi headquarters.”
Kamat said, Sardinha's name was declared by Oscar Fernandes two days ago in a bid to rubbish the controversy regarding the 'unconfirmed candidate' that had been created during Churchill's meet on March 31.
The chief minister also strongly refuted allegations that he (Kamat) was party to any agreement signed in favour of allotting the South Goa Congress ticket to Churchill's daughter Valanka.
He claimed that the document that was displayed by the PWD minister during the public meeting was valid only during the merger of the regional SGF party, which failed to take place.
MARGAO: A gung-ho Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat, on Thursday (April 2) exuded confidence that Congress nominee in South Goa, the sitting MP, Francisco Sardinha and, Congress-NCP combine would net both the seats from Goa in the April 23 Lok Sabha polls.
Addressing the media soon after Sardinha filed his nominations for the South Goa parliamentary seat, Kamat recalled that Sardinha had scored a 40,000-vote victory in the 2007 by-poll despite the low turnout, and that in the Pale assembly bye-poll, too, Congress' Pratap Gawas won comfortably.
“Even if the voter turnout is just 60 per cent, the party will get a 80,000-vote lead in South Goa," Kamat said.
Sardinha, who is contesting the seat for the third time said, “everyone is united and Congress will win without doubt.”
The BJP has already conceded defeat, he said pointing out to remarks attributed to BJP's national leader Sushma Sawaraj in Madhya Pradesh (MP).
Replying to questions, Sardinha claimed he released Rs 72-75 lakh for development works in the last one-and-a-half year in the constituency, including distributing computers and projectors to schools under the MPLAD scheme.
Sardinha also admitted his failure to fulfill the assurance on 'dhirios', but added that he did introduce a private member's bill in Parliament which has lapsed. "Being the property of the House it will be re-introduced when elected, in the very first session," he promised.
Other priorities listed on his agenda, Sardinha said, were a parallel Zuari bridge as well as the twin bridges across the Talpona and Galgibag rivers in Canacona taluka that would complete the “golden quadrilateral.”
Delhi to decide Churchill's fate
"We live in a democracy,” was GPCC chief, Subhash Shirodkar’s response to a query whether the meeting organised by PWD Minister Churchill Alemao in Margao would attract disciplinary action. He said responsibility to deal with the situation lay with the high command.
Kamat however clarified, “The Congress candidate is always declared by the person in-charge of the respective AICC desk in the Delhi headquarters.”
Kamat said, Sardinha's name was declared by Oscar Fernandes two days ago in a bid to rubbish the controversy regarding the 'unconfirmed candidate' that had been created during Churchill's meet on March 31.
The chief minister also strongly refuted allegations that he (Kamat) was party to any agreement signed in favour of allotting the South Goa Congress ticket to Churchill's daughter Valanka.
He claimed that the document that was displayed by the PWD minister during the public meeting was valid only during the merger of the regional SGF party, which failed to take place.
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