Wilfred Pereira
PANJIM: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Govt. of India, New Delhi has cleared the Goa State proposal of Rs 4.25 crore towards development of a synthetic turf at erstwhile Crown Club Football ground, Santa-Cruz.
The turf earmarked to be laid on the village football ground will be equipped with flood lighting and athletic track, as part of upgradation facilities towards which funding of up to Rs 7.00 crore will be provided by the Centre.
The Project Appraisal Committee, (PAC) of Sports Ministry, GoI had reportedly directed SAI, Mumbai office to submit feasibility report of the St-Cruz ground and the same has been complied. The upgraded facilities will help theyouth of the village, which has been in the thick of churning out good players.
Significantly, this is the first time that the Govt. of India has sanctioned such a huge amount for the development of village ground for round-the-seasons training.
Roque Dias, former Director of Sports and YA Govt. of Goa and presently Executive Director, Sports Authority India, Delhi said “the funding will improve the standard of football in the village as players can aspire to make it big.”
Elaborating further, he said: “I had visited Arsenal Club and interacted with officials in the UK. I would like to have a club modelled on Arsenal FC with similar artificial turf. We should have facilities like they have it at Arsenal,” said Dias.
Indoor mini swimming pool for rehabilitation, Video analysing room, Sauna bath, Physiotherapy room, Gym equipments with high sports performance lab, Yoga hall, Changing rooms, hostel facilities, etc, are some of the plans envisage in the project, so also to generate more revenue for the maintenance of the football ground.
This apart, we can make Santa-Cruz Football ground into a state-of-the-art training centre with more funding from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), he said.
“It is actually the need of the hour,” said Churchill Alemao, president of Goa Football Association.
Hailing the approval for a synthetic turf at Santa Cruz, Churchill said further: “The refurbishment of the Santa Cruz ground will be a big boost not only to the village but to the entire Tiswadi taluka. There is lot of football talent there, but the quality of grounds is very poor. Now with this infrastructure there will be professional football coming to this village. I am happy that SAI is taking this step.”
The present grounds at Agassaim, Taleigao, including St Cruz, have almost gone to the dogs, sources said.
“This will also help GFA get professional league matches here as well as other age-group leagues, providing the youth and budding football aspirants a quality infrastructure to develop their talent,” said Churchill.
He also thanked Dias for taking the initiative and pursuing the matter towards the logical end.
Local MLA Tony Fernandes also welcomed the clearance of funding by Govt. of India. “The funding will prove to be a shot in the arm for the players of Santa Cruz. They can now prepare themselves well and put the synthetic turf to good use. I am very happy that the Central funds have been sanctioned. I was following the project. I knew at first it was only Rs 4 cr, but due to the efforts of Roque Dias, the amount has been heightened to Rs 7 cr. I only hope the money is fully utilised for the St Cruz ground and not diverted to any other village,” said Fernandes.
“My request to the CM Mr Pramod Sawant is that government hand over the Santa-Cruz Football ground with maintenance grant to the Village Panchayat, Santa-Cruz for close monitoring of this project and better usage, so as to start a football academy,” the local MLA added.
Hailing the move, Richard Vaz, President of Crown Club, St Cruz, said it is very good news. “My only request is that the facilities be kept open free to the local St Cruz boys,” Vaz said.
Mariano De Araujo, former Sarpanch, Santa-Cruz, who was in constant touch with Dias for ensuring that thefunds were sanctioned said, “its time that Panchayat Ministry should pass the resolution after consulting Sports Ministry that local Panchayat should be handed over the ground for proper maintenance.”
