Joaquim hails state hockey revival

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2008-12-20
PANAJI- Former India hockey captain and coach Joaquim Carvalho today said he had finalised an invitation for the Goa state hockey team to tour Oman at the behest of the Oman Olympic Association in March 2009 and praised ACHG for coming forward to revive hockey in Goa.
Joaquim said he could see so much potential at today’s Instant Hockey tournament organised by ACHG and noticed how exposure for the players, who were part of the team that visited Portugal, recently had changed them from boys to men.
He appreciated the performance of Gudi Paroda team despite not being able to practice prior to this tournament for absence of a hockey ground in their village. Joaquim said it was symbolic that the revival of Goan hockey through this tournament was held on Goa Liberation Day!
Goa Olympic Association secretary general Mr Gurudatta Bhakta said he was overjoyed to see the response of the Goan hockey players for this tournament. He praised the office bearers of the newly formed ACHG for their efforts at reviving the national game in Goa and promised them that they would be given all the recognition and support needed in order to field Goa state teams for the nationals at sub junior, junior, and senior levels.Mr V M Prabhudessai said that he was happy that the ACHG had come forward to revive hockey in Goa. He said that Goans always excelled in hockey and that now it was heartening to know that through the efforts of the ACHG Goan hockey players would get the opportunity for exposure at the highest level.
The SAG would give all the support to ACHG and would provide grants to the association so that they could promote the game of hockey in Goa and send Goan teams for various national and international tournaments.
Dr Susana that the newly formed Association for Control of Hockey in Goa would get all the support from department and promised she would help the association to depute a team for the forthcoming Lusofonia Games to be held in Portugal. ACHG President Mr Sigmund de Souza, General Secretary Mr Anselm Gabriel and treasurer Mr John Lobo along with other members worked tirelessly to put together this tournament.