THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2024
Goa had an early exit from the prestigious Santosh Trophy tournament and football is Goa’s State game. Goa has been producing international players for India and has been a fancied team. Today an underdog team can easily beat Goa.
The shocking defeat has awakened Goans to think about the ebbing power of Goan footballers. The reasons could be many but one definite reason is depriving the locals to play on developed grounds in many villages of Goa.
Many grounds were developed by the State government and these developed grounds were once pucca grounds for Goans to play for all seasons, whether it rains or scorching sun, they were open for the villagers, these pucca grounds has been nurseries of Goan football and produced international players for India and inter-village tournaments has been breeding ground for producing Goan footballers with village clubs, villagers, local football aficionados bearing the cost and the spirits were high.
Today we find the once pucca football grounds have been developed and gated across the State. In the village of Utorda, one such ground has been developed and gated and locked thus depriving the villagers to play the “Beautiful Game”.
Feeling the impulse of Utorda villagers, prominent villager Remy Pereira says land for the Utorda ground was given by Utorda landowners for the villagers to use as multipurpose ground. After development of the ground the purpose is lost. Ironically, Utorda does not have a ground for villagers to play.
Anthony Fernandes, former sportsman, State player in various fields, says that lack of playgrounds is the key reason for the decline in Goan football and other sports. In the days gone by, all the villages had many open spaces and were used as playgrounds and small sided grounds. With the advent of real estate things changed drastically. Utorda is a classic example where villagers sacrificed land to develop a village football ground but now our budding footballers are unable to use it.”
“Many villagers are not happy with the step motherly treatment meted to the villagers and some of them were aghast to see even young grassroots level footballers centre promoted by the State were forced to play in low lying water soaked area during the rainy season whereas the developed all-seasoned ground is idle locked and gated,” he added.
“What an Irony? We have been raised here, played here and have fond memories and we are emotionally attached and connected to our village ground,” retort many villagers.
The ground was also used by our local school as their playground, say the villagers.
