SUMMER CAMPS GO FAR & WIDE TO INTRODUCE CHILDREN TO CRICKET IN GOA

There is something about summer holidays that draw kids to Cricket for the first time. And more often than not, it is the special summer camp that does the trick! 

While winters are cool and kids love to sleep till almost the noon time, the summers break their sleep early and off they go for a Cricket coaching class at the nearby summer camp. 

Goa's cities and towns have traditionally catered to the demand of summer camps as dedicated cricketers of the past like the legendary Hemant Angle, who is now in his 33rd year of hosting summer camp under his own Margao Cricket Academy, understand the need to promote the sport relentlessly to tap raw talents. 

"Kids from all kinds of background come to me and we are happy to provide coaching to them. In the past, I have not even charged fees for those who couldn't afford it, but had a strong desire to learn," says Angle, who is ICC Level 3 coach. 

Kids are flexible and absorb knowledge regardless of the lower age limit criteria. "I have a four and a half year old boy coming to my camp and he is showing a keen interest," reveals Angle, the former Vice-Captain of Goa Ranji Trophy team.

While summer camps at most places including at Panjim Gymkhana have qualified coaches to guide the children, the community facilities set up by the government like the newly-opened nets in Porvorim, are freely available for children to play. 

Apparently, gone are the days when children needed to travel to the main Cricket centres for training, and if such infrastructure is made available in more locations across the state, children can hone their skills by making disciplined use of the government facility.