CHICALIM: The village playground of Chicalim developed by Chicalim panchayat through the MPLAD scheme of South Goa MP, Francisco Sardinha will be inaugurated on January 25 at 3 p.m.
The playground is home to local and talented footballers. Top teams like Salgaocar, Vasco, MES College and schools from surrounding areas have been using the ground.
The total expenditure has been estimated at Rs 26 lakh. It has been raised with a turf with fencing and drainage facilities. The foundation stone was laid on February 21, 2009.
The panchayat has dug small wells to supplement the supply of water for watering the turf which is lush and green and a sight to behold.
On the inaugural day veteran footballers from Chicalim/Dabolim/St Jacinto Island will display their skills for a few minutes against the present generation of junior footballers of the same villages.
Later, a strong Married XI will take on holders Bachelors XI in another match which will be followed by a friendly match between Salgaocar Veterans and Bardez Veterans. This match will see the cream of Goa’s old and gold footballers. Salgaocar, who used to practice on this ground will have their best of players from the golden era including Arjuna Awardee Brahmanand Shankwalkar, Sanjiv Nagvenkar, Mario Soares, Savio Madeira, Oscar Rebello, Bento Andrew, Robert Fernandes, Lector Mascarenhas, Peter Vales.
Bardez Veterans will include Arjuna Awardee Bruno Coutinho, Gokuldas Nagvenkar, Salvador Fernandes, Anthony D’ Souza amongst others.
National referee Raghunath Gosavi will officiate.
The panchayat will honour all sportspersons from Chicalim/Dabolim/St Jacinto Island who have represented the State in sports.
