TEAM HERALD

 

MARGAO: The Velim Fabrica football ground ~ which once churned out footballers and hosted soccer matches ~ had literally resembled a shelter for the strays in recent times.

It was not uncommon to find stray cattle making the ground their second home. But that appears to be a thing of the past as the football ground, opposite the St Francis Xavier Church, has finally received attention of the government. The football ground would be finally developed by the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs at an estimated cost of Rs 18 lakh.

The foundation stone for the development of the school playground of St Xavier’s High School, Velim, was blessed by the Parish Priest Fr Jorge Pazzi Fernandes in the presence of Velim MLA Benjamin D’Silva, who once played football on the ground, Velim Sarpanch Melvyn Sanches, School Headmistress Mabel Da Costa, members of the school playground committee and local villagers.

The idea of restoring the lost glory of the football ground originated exactly a year ago when the Velim Panchayat received an application from the local Fabrica to clear the ground of stray cattle. Sarpanch Melvyn Sanches, who had also played on the ground during his youthful days, took up the matter with the Velim MLA with a proposal to upgrade the ground. “Benjamin readily accepted the suggestion and took the initiative to pursue the same with the government for funds after receiving NOC from the Fabrica,” Melvyn said.