'Keeping' Maharashtra's hockey skills integral

(L-R) Edgar Mascarenhas Jr, Helen Mary and Adrian D`Souza

Hockey Maharashtra, which is the governing body for the sport in the state, is planning a goalkeeping academy at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune. And former India goalkeepers Adrian D'Souza, Edgar Mascarenhas Jr and Helen Mary will be the talent scouts for the same.

Hockey Maharashtra general secretary Manoj Bhore told mid-day that the idea originated a few months ago and plans will be put into place as soon as the COVID-19 situation improves across the state.
"The idea was put forward by Maharashtra's sports commissioner Om Prakash Bakoria a few months back and we are keen to implement it soon," Bhore told mid-day recently.

"Maharashtra has contributed a lot of top goalkeepers to Team India in the past. Among recent names, we have Adrian, Edgar, Helen and currently there is Akash Chikte and Suraj Karkera, who is with the national team. Adrian, Edgar and Helen will travel across the state and scout goalkeeping talent in the U-14 and U-16 category. These youngsters will then be groomed here at Balewadi. The plan is to prepare these youngsters for the 2028 Olympic Games [in Los Angeles] and onwards," added Bhore.

Mascarenhas explained further: "I've had a couple of fruitful meetings with Mr Bakoria. Around a month or so down the line we plan to have three-day camps, one each in Aurangabad, Pune and Mumbai, where we will invite only goalkeepers and pick the best from there. Around a dozen boys and an equal, if not more, number of girls will be shortlisted and enrolled into the academy in Pune. While accommodation for the trainees will be taken care of at the Balewadi complex, he plan is to also take care of their schooling and other needs," said Mascarenhas.

Meanwhile, Edgar, Mary, Bhore and former women's international player Saba Anjum have also been appointed as Talent Identification Zonal Committee members for Maharashtra (West Zone) as part of the country's Khelo India programme. Their primary role will be to identify young talent at the grass-root level across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Chhattisgarh, Dadra-Nagar Haveli and Daman-Diu.