PANJIM, MAY 31
Speak about volleyball in Goa and the response one gets is either, ‘no improvement’ or ‘no scope’ with Goa Volleyball Association (GVA) being responsible for such a lamentable state of the game
One can normally hear and speak a lot about football and other games which have proved its prowess in the State with the associations like GFA, going out of their way to equip the local talent with the most modern developments and coaching.
GVA’s functioning on the other hand is completely diverse from other associations with most of the clubs unhappy with its working.
It is basically clubs, besides SAG and DSYA who have kept volleyball alive in the State. and Odxel Sports Club could be considered to be one amongst them.
The club was established way back in 1979 by Krishna Shirodkar, Madhu Divkar, Krishna Divkar and Vasu Divkar as the locals of Odxel village in Taleigao were ardent about the game and had sports running in their blood.
The formation of the club could not have been possible without the guidance and support of Pandurang Sancoalkar (ex-director of accounts and a social worker), stated Sanjay Shirodkar, ex-secretary of Odxel. The club was mainly established with a view to promote sports in the village, as it was a remote area then and for the welfare and development of the village people.
The club members were provided with their first official coaching camp by DSYA through Ramesh Lotlikar, NIS coach in 1979 and since 1989 to 1994 the club members were trained under the guidance of Anand Shirodkar, UDC, DSYA.
Further in 2002 Milton Fernandes, asst. director of physical education, Goa University equipped the club with advance techniques, theories of the game, sports psychology and methods of training. Deelip Divkar, NIS coach, SAG also guided the club.
Since past 20 years, the club has shown terrific improvement in its performance through its achievements in all-Goa volleyball tournaments like regular volleyball tournaments, beach volleyball, inter-ward volleyball and inter-village volleyball. In all, the club has won 177 volleyball championship titles and 89 runners-up titles.
The club has produced four international players, Sanjay Shirodkar and Ravi Shirodkar (beach volleyball) and Suresh Shirodkar and Anil Shirodkar (regular volleyball) and 15 National players for the State.
The ‘not to be forgotten heroes’ of the club who laid the strong foundation from 1989-1994 and played a vital role in winning maximum championship are Suresh Shirodkar (Paulo), Deepak Divkar, Devu Divkar, Yashwant Divkar, Hanumant Divkar and Vishwanath Divkar.
Besides volleyball, Odxel also has a football team which reached the GFA 2nd division league in 2008 and the club has also organised all-Goa inter-village football tournaments.
