Namdev Fadte - grandiose plans for Goa cricket Batsman Namdev Fadte left a lasting impression on the cricket field as a batsman of repute. Coach Namdev Fadte is starting a new innings. A new innings as coach of the Goan Ranji trophy team. Armstrong Vaz got close to the newly appointed Goan coach to know his plans for the up coming season.
Batsman Namdev Fadte started his Ranji Trophy career in the 1984 squad when Goa gained the Ranji trophy status. He has had the most impressive performance by a Goan batsman till date scoring over 600 odd runs in eleven matches notching three centuries and one half century against his name. Goa hired many a professional from various parts of the country as players to play for the Goan cricket team but none of the big names of Indian cricket have come close to matching the record of Namdev Fadte the batsman. Namdev's appointment as coach of the Goan cricket team came more by chance than by design. A chance meeting with the President of Goa Cricket Association Dayanand Narvekar sealed the deal for Fadte. Down on holiday to oversee the construction of his bungalow at Porvorim he met Narvekar at the under-15 match and the rest is history as they say. Fadte has been an expatriate for sometime now having settled in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates since 1988. The call of Goan cricket came calling and Fadte who had no plans of coaching the Goan cricket team had to bow to the demands of Goan cricket looking out for a coach. His Goan calling forcing him away from his wife and children who are studying in UAE. In the last six years Fadte has been the sports secretary of the Abu Dhabi National Bank. His coaching acumen spread over the years when as a Ranji trophy player he conducted a camp for young lads from Vasco. Young lads from Vasco like Sandesh Dhuri who went on to play for the state. He also informed that he got additional coaching briefs in England. On his plans for the Goan ranji trophy matches he informed that he will first concentrate on the physical fitness of the players. He also disclosed that he will take the help of last year's captain, Swapnil Asondkar in getting the Goan cricket team probables into shape. Asondkar it may be recalled had a stint with National Cricket Academy, Bangalore and according to Fadte is the most fit person in the Goan squad. The coach is waiting for the return of GCA Secretary Chetan Dessai from the BCCI general body meeting and he along Chetan and the selection committee will announce a list of 30 probables. The probables he disclosed will play matches among themselves on different venues through out the state. Explaining the rationale of playing at different venues he disclosed that was with the view to get the players accustomed to different wickets in the state, which will make them prepared for the greater task ahead during the season. He preferred two months of coaching for the boys but with Goa slated to play their first match in November, he has just one month at his disposal and with weather permitting, Fadte wants his boys to be released by private firms and government duty. As Goa lacks in professional players and professional approach we will have to take the help of government and private firms to release our players for the good of Goan cricket he added. "My schedule of training will stretch both in the morning and evening session in the one month at my disposal" he disclosed. He also sounded a warning to the Current Ranji trophy players that none of the players should take their places for granted. "Everybody would have to be on their toes and will try to get the best out of each player" he added. Fadte who originally hails from Cumbharjua learnt all his cricket in the port city first playing for St Joseph High School, Vasco and then for MES college Vasco. In his younger days Namdev was a prolific Table Tennis junior champion before concentrating on his cricketing skills. With Goa playing three of their five matches in Goa, the coach has high expectations from his wards. He is dismayed at the performance of the Goan team over the years. "We should have been topping the group as plate B is the lowest division. In our playing days we gave a tough fight to the top south zone teams like Karnataka, Hyderabad, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. But it now sad to see the performance of our team" he added. He has a long term development plan for Goan Cricket which he will put before the GCA. "It is up to the GCA to look into my plans for Goan Cricket", he added. "Success cannot be achieved overnight we have to set up a system", he further added. He also talks about a planned budget for Goan cricket which includes players remuneration and traveling for the Ranji trophy matches. He also called upon the Goan players to take their cricket seriously and questioned as to how many of our Goan cricketers have picked their bat or ball after the Ranji trophy cricket and how many of them have trained to keep themselves fit in the off season. "Cricket or for that matter any sports requires dedication and practicing on your own" he advised. On his remuneration for the high profile job he said he is interested in returning back what he has gained form the cricket field. "What I am today is because of cricket" he added. Namdev Fadte begins a new innings of steadying the Goan Ranji trophy ship, a ship which he had steadied with his batsmanship skills over the years playing in the then system of south zone. Namdev the coach has a Herculean task. A task which will put to his coaching skills to test. He will have to prove that coaching comes as easily as his batting which came with a grace and smooth touch. Graceful stroke play, silken touch and perfect timing was his hallmark. Will coaching carve out a different personality of Namdev. Time will tell us that Coach Namdev Fadte has finally arrived and whether he has the answers to the ills of Goan cricket.