BY ARMSTRONG VAZ
The decision of whether or not to take part in the Women's Senior National Championship in Pune, Maharashtra, was a perplexing dilemma that troubled Farrel Furtado e Gracias, the Secretary of Goans Hockey, for a considerable amount of time.
Farrel was worried after receiving a lukewarm response for the State Senior Women’s League in December last year. For the record, the Senior Women State Championship conducted by Goans Hockey saw Young Sports Hockey Club, Mapusa, emerging on top defeating Crozan Society Bastora in the North Goa zonal final.
The absence of any team from South Goa in the final held on December 20, 2023, highlights the sad state of affairs of hockey in the south. Despite the district having majority of the principal office bearers, there was no women's tournament organised in this area.
After weeks of uncertainty, Farrel took matters in her own hands and decided that Goa will field a team in the Senior Women’s National Championship.
She, along with other office bearers, including her long-serving Executive Committee member Beny Viegas, decided to write to different teams registered with Hockey India and ask for the services of players registered with them.
Presto, Goans Hockey had nine players drawn from different parts of the country that played in the ongoing championship which has reached the quarter-final stage.
Goans Hockey did not make it to the next stage as they lost one match and drew the other. They started with a 9-1 loss to Hockey Association of Odisha and then drew 2-2 with Chandigarh Hockey.
Farrel defended the decision to recruit players from outside Goa. She mentioned that Goan players were preoccupied with exams.
Exam excuse
Farrel defended the decision to recruit players from outside Goa. She mentioned that Goan players were preoccupied with exams. The team only had four players from outside the state. Despite lacking an academy and support, the local players were performing admirably, she said.
Farrel pointed out that other qualifying teams also enlist players from outside their region. As a former Velim MLA and long-time administrator in Goan hockey, she has been involved with the sport for the past three decades.
“Our senior players had exams, so by sending a team we did nothing wrong,” she added.
Farrel’s sister Nelly Furtado e Rodrigues, who is also part of the Executive Committee of Goans Hockey, said. “If Goan girls don’t come for practice during selection, then what to do? Please suggest,” Nelly, who served as principal of MES College Vasco and is also Zilla Parishad member, said.
If Goan girls don’t come for practice during selection, then what to do? Please suggest
Nelly Furtdao e Rodrigues
No letters to local educational institutes
But a closer look revealed that of the nine players who played for Goa, eight had previously played for different teams in the national senior and junior championships.
Securing the services of the players involved weeks of paper work with different state units, but at the local level no such letters asking for players to attend trials were sent to any of the Goan schools, colleges and Goa University.
Here is the list of eight players who played for different teams in the national championship in the past before turning up for Goa this year: Komal (Delhi Hockey), Kirandeep Kaur (Hockey Punjab), Ruparna Das (Hockey Bengal), Umra (Hockey Himachal), Ruby Devi (Hockey Arunachal), Payal (Hockey Himachal), Dhawal Manisha (Steel Plant Sports Board), and Arti Kashyap (Himachal Academy).
The ninth player, Baghel Akanshi, made her national level debut with Goans Hockey and it was not immediately known which state she belongs to or is registered with.
Goans Hockey treasurer Aloysious D’Souza said that all permissions have been taken in the form of no-objection certificates from the respective teams and states for the non-Goan players.
The Goa-based players are: Geeta Rathod, Anuska Quadros, Anouska D’Souza, Yukta Mahato, Nikita Naik, Diksha Chowdhari, Manjita Mathkar Vas, Aditi Agni Naik and Khushi Mahesh Virnodkar.
Goans Hockey treasurer Aloysious D’Souza said that all permissions have been taken in the form of no-objection certificates from the respective teams and states for the non-Goan players.
“All the Goans who attended the trials have been selected. No Goans have been left out to accommodate outsiders. We need more locals to participate,” the Mapusa-based Chartered Accountant said.
He also said Goan girls kept away from the trials on account of their exams. “Selection can be made based on performance in the league and other tournaments. But players should first report for trials. If players don't report for trials, how can they be selected? Players have cited lack of attendance in colleges and also exams as excuses for not attending the trials. So, can they be selected even if they will not be able to travel for the nationals?” he questioned.
Selection can be made based on performance in the league and other tournaments. But players should first report for trials. If players don't report for trials, how can they be selected?
Aloysious D’Souza, Goans Hockey treasurer
Players tell a different story
Some players, who have been dropped by Goans Hockey in the past even after training for two months for the National Games by missing their classes, beg to differ. “Only one player said she had exams. They are telling lies, spreading falsehoods,” said Riya Salgaonkar, a final year student of St Xavier's College, Mapusa, who was dropped on the eve of the National Games hosted in Goa.
Some players, who have been dropped by Goans Hockey in the past even after training for two months for the National Games by missing their classes, beg to differ.
Riya, whose exams start on April 16, said players like her have stopped going for trials although they play in local tournaments in North Goa. She is one of the players who is not happy with the treatment meted out to her by Goans Hockey at the National Games.
Riya is not alone. Brunila Andrade was also dropped on health grounds as she had dengue fever. Her test reports were received by her only after the announcement of the team. Brunila, a versatile athlete from Cuncolim, has made the decision to forego hockey and focus her attention on other sports.
Not A New Trend
The practice of bringing outstation players started at the National Games hosted by Goa last year when such players were drafted into the many sports disciplines including the men and women’s hockey teams.
In 2023, seven outstation junior girls were included in the team directly for the junior nationals at Odisha. Girls from far off Morlem, Keri and Honda, all from Sattari taluka reported daily for the camp. However, they were eventually replaced by other outstation girls. Their coaches spent their own money to bring them daily to the ground in Peddem Mapusa.
The practice of bringing outstation players started at the National Games hosted by Goa last year when such players were drafted into the many sports disciplines including the men and women’s hockey teams.
Many individuals within the hockey community believe that consistent occurrences of such incidents have resulted in players feeling both frustrated and passionate coaches losing their motivation over time.
Goan girls are feeling let down and have lost their enthusiasm due to the consistent rejection they face after attending camps and trials. Goans Hockey has developed a habit of favouring outstation talent, which has left the local girls feeling disappointed and unwilling to face further disappointment.
“Yes a player who was dropped during the National Games went into depression and the family of the girl spent sleepless nights to bring the girl to her normal self,” said a parent from South Goa.
It is unfortunate for women's hockey in the state, especially considering that there are two women politicians leading the way. Farrel and Nelly, who are both part of the Executive Committee, have backgrounds in teaching and are actively involved in politics at different levels.
However, they were unable to inspire enough women from Goa to join the state team for the nationals, resulting in the need to recruit players from outside the state.
