Goan
football coach along with UK and USA nationals rendering yeomen service in
Palolem during lockdown
#lockdown,
#Covid-19, #lockdown2020, #selfisolate, #quarantine, #lockdownextension, #lockdowndiaries,
#staysafe, #21days, #lockdownday3, #stayhome, #qurantinelife, #IStayHome
A football
coach, a businessman and a yoga teacher have
come together under one roof in Goa. They have a common cause - reach out to
the poor and needy people in the coastal beach side resort of Palolem.
Goan Akhil
Pagui, UK-born Linda Russell and Andrew Mason, a UK citizen having business
interests in Cambodia are on the field delivering essential food items to the
needy people of Palolem ever since the lockdown was imposed.
Pagui, is a
known Cristiano Ronaldo fan while Barcelona FC is his favouritie club. He has been in to football coaching for the
last one and half decade. His football coaching odessey has taken him to
different part of the country. On the way he has been inspired by different
football ideologies and come across varied football coaching mythologies.
But when the
lockdown came calling in Palolem, he momentary set aside his football shoes.
Instead for the last few weeks, distributing food grains and other essential
items has become his priority.
In Palolem
Beach area, one of the most popular beach in Goa, Akhil along with other local
volunteers have identified around 20 families living without any financial
support and who don't have money to buy provisions during the lockdown period.
“It's very
challenging to those who are daily wage earners and who have absolutely no
support. We have decided to provide them with support in the form of food
packages and other essential items. This package will contain supplies for 10
to 15 days. Supplies will be distributed through a network of our volunteers in
respective families. Cost of each packet is ₹ 1000/,” said Pagui.
For the
records, Pagui football journey started with Mumbai-based OSCAR Foundation, a
organization which uses football as a platform to bring about change in the
lives of the under prevailed children of the metropolis.
Thereafter
he has had coaching stings with Canacona Sports Academy (Goa), Lyceum Sports
Club (Jaipur), Shanti Asiatic School (CBSE) Jaipur, Chinmaya school (Mumbai),
Patel boarding school ( Gujarat , Bhachau), and
Concrete Involvement Football Academy ( C.I.F.A), his personal academy
in (Vadodara Gujarat).
“CIFA aims
to develop talented young footballers across India. We believe in holistic
approach to football coaching development the player as well as the young
person,” he said about his football academy and vision.
“CIFA
understands the role sport can play in developing well rounded and successful
young adults. As well as coaching football to high level CIFA also teaches
children about health diet and how to build self confidence and concentration
through their unique coaching games and drills,’ he added.
Working
alongside and the driving force of the mission are two veteran from two
different fields.
Bhakti Yogi
teacher Russell has been a long time visitor to India dating back to nearly
three decades while Mason, owner of franchise Big Easy Phnom Penh and Ko Rong
Samloem, Cambodia, which generates money for charities in Cambodia, completes
the circle. Mason has been extending his charitable hand to the India project
initiated by Pagui and is a major fund raiser.
“So far we
have raise rupees one lakh. More money is on the way hopefully thanks to the
efforts of Linda Russell and Andrew Mason,” said Pagui.
“It’s a
golden opportunity to change life to think creative or do something to stay
with the family and people understand the value of food, especially the value
of farmer. Everything is going to change. It's a learning of the life. How to
leave peacefully. Here I'm helping
underprivileged people giving food and working as a social volunteer,”
said Pagui.
Russell,
stay put in Goa even as over 7,000 western tourists flew back to their
respective countries via the special repartition flights arranged by the
respective governments in association with their Indian counterparts.
“I have
stayed back to help my Indian friend (Akhil Pagui) to feed the no income
families in Palolem so they can survive this lockdown,” Linda said in response
to a question.
A Bhakti
Yogi for the last 26 years has so far been helping 15 to 20 families in Palolem
since the first nationwide 21-day lockdown was announced on March 24 and its
second extension happened till May 3, and which was further extended to prevent
the spread of the Coronavirus.
Linda
describes Pagui as a ‘Spiderman’ ready to help people in need.
“I have met
a young guy Akhil Pagui who has the rainbow above his head. Heartfelt kindness
of which I have not seen in such a young chap in a long time. We are
collectively are on a quiet mission here in India to help the needy. Selflessly
he perseveres quietly like Spiderman with as much aid as we can help,” Linda
says.
Russell says
life has been hard for the local residents of Palolem residents, who have no
income on their own in the lockdown period and were dependent on daily wages to
keep the house fires burning.
”We shop and
distribute basic staples such as fruit, vegetable, rice, flour etc. Some
families went to the forest in search of food during the lockdown. We allocated
families with adequate food to keep them well and healthy. Toiletries and must
haves have been also been included,” she added.
Russell said
her decision to stay back and help was with a view to pay back to India the
country from where she has learnt many things over the years.
“Thank you
India for my education of 26 years to give me an opportunity to give something
good back. Love all, serve all,” she adds.
She informed
that they are looking for more financial aid to help the families in the long
run as they are running out of the money.
“We are
raising money from the West and appealing for financial help,” she adds.
Meanwhile, American
national Alexander Mark Kinaj has also joined the team and they have set up a
crowdfunding appeal, details which will be shared shortly they said.
Labels: #beach, #benaulim, #goa, #goafood, #goafoodblogger, Barcelona, Football, Goa, Goa Football Association (GFA), Goa Football Development Council, India, Indian football, journalism
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