*PRESS RELEASE*
* Goans have always shown a natural flair for the game of hockey and have always played thrilling and delightful hockey. In undivided India, the Karachi Goans and Bombay Goans gave India their finest and most outstanding hockey players. Goans settled in Bombay, and Central India formed the cream of the Indian hockey team before Goa’s liberation. Post liberation, when Goans found little opportunities for growth of hockey within the state, the international hockey horizon saw a number of gifted hockey players of Goan origin representing countries like the USA, Canada, England, Kenya, Tanzania, besides India. * *In an attempt to hone the inherent talent in Goa at the rural and grassroot level, a 3 week long hockey training camp is being organised by ‘Hockey Village India Academy’ in association with Miracles High School, Sanguem in the school premises from Oct 19, 2014. 4 German coaches along with 14 girls and boys from Hockey Village India Academy will contribute their expertise to the camp. * *The idea behind the camp is to revive the sport among the youngsters, and give talented girls and boys opportunities to test their skills in more competitive and challenging environments. * *In 2010, a former German hockey player Andrea Thumshirn started the academy in Garh Himmat Singh, District Dausa in Rajasthan with the support of her German hockey friends and local ruling families. With the support of the local population, Andrea not only finalised a ground but also arranged for hockey sticks, T-shirts and other. Since there were too many children to coach, training sessions for girls and boys were fixed for alternate days. Thereafter, she managed to spread awareness of hockey in the surrounding areas and started giving training to 50 girls and boys who later on participated in various U-14 and U-16 domestic tournaments. * *With the intention to combine sports and education, Hockey Village India opened their own school in 2013 to provide proper education and sporting facilities to the identified budding players. Hockey India has added Hockey Village India Academy as an Associate Member, with an aim to reach out to those underprivileged children who are keen to make a career in sports an provide a platform to showcase their talent.* *Miracles High School Sanguem, run by the Society of Pilar, largely caters to the educational and recreational needs of children in Goa’s rural belt. Miracles High School was in the news recently for an entirely different venture. A month-long effort to induce children to develop an interest in agriculture under the guidance of Fr Pio Furtado, Headmaster of Miracles High School, met with resounding success, with the produce being sold to the Goa Horticulture Development Corporation. * *With the dedication and support of the authorities, the hockey initiative is moving in a similar direction. The girls and boys at Miracles High School come from the rural belt, and have been active at hockey in Goa’s school circuit. The aim of the camp is to promote the sport among the children, and make the hockey accessible and fun for the children.* *The programme starts at 9 am on 19th October 2014 at Miracles High School, Sanguem. 7 a side exhibition matches involving Goan girls and boys and the visiting girls and boys from Hockey Village India, Rajasthan will be held. For any queries, kindly contact Peter on 08390696135 or on peterfe...@gmail.com <peterfe...@gmail.com>*