Team Herald
PANJIM: With Goa finally getting its first astro turf ground ready, the State has been handed the opportunity to host the Hockey India’s 12th sub-junior national hockey championship at Peddem Sports Complex, Peddem.
The ground which was being prepared for the national games, was opened for hockey fraternity in the second half of 2021 and now the state will be organising the first nationals in after nearly three-four decades.
“The last time Goa hosted National was a senior women’s national in 1975 or 76; but this is the first time we will be hosting a boys hockey championship,” stated Benny Viegas, General Secretary Goans Hockey.
The tournament is scheduled for May 4 to May 15 where 29 teams will battle for the title. Last year, Jharkhand won the title defeating Haryana 3-1 in the shootout.
“This is excellent for Goan hockey fraternity. We can’t have high expectations considering the time we had in preparation but one thing I am delighted the most is to host the championship in Goa. This will give an opportunity for all our Goan players to see the standards of this sport in other states and improve,” Benny explained.
With Goa having just one turf ground, all the matches will be played on a single venue.
—Improper
maintenance?—
However, as delighted Benny was, there were some concerns too. Recently a local hockey player took to social media platforms about the ugly side of the Peddem Sports Complex, where the ground wasn’t watered properly causing a huge problems for the players to play. The player even claimed to injure himself due to the dry turf conditions. The player even posted a picture of himself showing his fresh injuries on his face after falling on the ground.
The player expressed his difficulties while playing and also requested the authority to inspect the venue on his social media post.
This isn’t a new issue. In Goa we have been developing infrastructure but what we fail to realise is the maintenance part which follows up. The grounds need to be maintained regularly.
“As far as the ground is concerned, there were problems earlier. The pump wasn’t working and the dry turf made it difficult for the players to play. Yes, it could cause injuries for the players as the turf needs to be watered at regular intervals,” explained Benny.
Benny, however, clarified that after following up with the concerned authority they got the pump fixed and now the grounds are maintained properly. “The ground has sprinklers and the pump is working fine now. The authorities concerned have been briefed about the maintenance and the playing conditions which they have been doing well as of now,” state Benny.
“The changing rooms have also been ready now,” concluded Benny. The inauguration of the ground is scheduled to be held on May 2 just two days before the state could host the first hockey nationals after decades.
