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 ..