Football being my passion and played the game since childhood
Lawrence Samuel
Hockey Secretary (Mumbai Schools Sports Association)
Football being my passion & played the
game since childhood I shifted from this game to School Sports Administration
for Hockey which I found difficult initially but later sailed my way thru post
being elected as Hockey Secretary for MSSA which was unopposed in July 2018.
The availability of grounds, Umpires and more
over only few schools participated for MSSA Hockey tournament thus making it a
tough & challenging for me ..
Being that new hockey secretary to MSSA I had
tough times with some coaches and players where negative vibes were sent across
stating what this guy can do to for the growth of Hockey at grass root level as
he has been a football player/coach. This was the turnaround & took this as
a challenge to prove my capability.
As time went on I decided to conduct Rink
Hockey Tournament on 29 August 2018 as
celebration of Dhayan Chand National sports day .. The tournament was a great
success thus making good coordination with teacher and hockey coaches..which
helped me in future.
I wanted media to cover the mssa hockey
tournament so to bring awareness about the game ...I did request some media
people to cover story of new schools participating in hockey tournament ...free
press journal and Mumbai mirror was the backbone to bring back hockey in our city
of Mumbai.. Reports were sent by me on daily basis.. Also remember the day I went
to meet mufeed rizvi sir at times office as he is well-known for his hockey
articles.. Our meeting was successful he promised to cover mssa Hockey ...how
can I forget free press journal for all the sports reporters..the paper works
for school sports children ...
In fact some Television News Channels also
cover school MSSA Hockey tournament e.g: News 18, TV 9 Marathi and SAAM TV .
Due to some problems between two association
MHA refused to give ground and umpires for annual MSSA Hockey tournaments..
Sports authority of India is my first home with many years relationship, SAI
agreed to help me with under 16 boys and girls tournament and under 14,12 and 10
finished in Stanislaus with big amount of ground fees which was not acceptable
.
It's was history Sir DhanRaj , Sir MM Somia
,Sir Mervin, Sir Joaquim, Sir Adgar, Sir Goams, Sir Clearance Lobo, Sir Adrin & Sir Dawindra were the star galaxy
witness the first year’s tournament conducted by me and started supporting me
..
Would like to add Sir Clearnce Lobo (Dronacharya Award winner) stated that
school hockey has been taken to different level verses the past where lot of
school stared taken part, parent’s involvement with the game cheering their
children in all keeping the spirit alive of Hockey.
Also a comment
from Dayanand Shetty sports coordinator of Dominic Savio thanked me for my
administrative skills within a short time & brought back Hockey in the city
which was dead.
In 2019 I did all the age groups MSSA annual
hockey tournament at SAI the tournament went to almost 40 days,118 teams
registered and almost 2500 children playing hockey in the city was a big
achievement for me.. SAI was the only option..as
the cost of ground was minimum. This year too MHA didn't gave umpires but I
managed some quality umpires from UP and other States. In fact some umpires
were also called from MHA, but were told not to do the match umpiring for MSSA
..
2019 with a circular from Hockey India, MSSA
was under the academy for which Hockey India promoted MSSA for one more age
groups juniors boys and girls ..
Under this academy now MSSA will be playing
under 16 boys and girls Sub Junior and under 19 boys and girls juniors..
As resolved in annual general meeting 2020
which went online on Zoom, MSSA will be inviting Jr.colleges for the age groups
of under 19 boys and girls ..
With MHA affiliation with Maharashtra state we
MSSA only body in city to play direct (national) Hockey India tournament for under
16 and 19 boys and girls ..
Many planning are in pipeline such as
·
Regular coaching for kids at different centres.
·
Conducting maximum number of Rink Hockey Tournament.
·
Schools to take up hockey as sports where coaches will provided
·
Umpires workshop and clinics.
I hope MHA should come forward, join hands and
work together for the hockey, as it is here many player from Mumbai not only
played for the country at the Olympics but also the World cup and Asian games
..
MHA has a biggest advantage because of its ground
and I think school hockey should be given permission, this young players are
the future of MHA ..
Comments