College professors begin survey of Impact of Covid-19 lock-down on Goan sportspersons

College professors begin survey of Impact of Covid-19 lock-down on Goan sportspersons 

Margao

Will the corona virus outbreak and lock down adversely affect the sporting careers and the entire sport industry in the near future that is question which has been troubling many a people who are directly and indirectly linked to it on the global stage.

In Goa it is no different, with uncertainty hanging around in the air; three physical education teachers have started a survey to study the impact the Covid-19 lock-down on training and daily routine of sportsperson and economic impact on the lockdown on the sports persons in the state.

Dr Anil Ramachandran, Associate Professor, Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Kannur University, Kerala; Dr Rajan Mathew, Director of Physical Education, Govt. College, Quepem; and Milton Fernandes, Assistant Director of Physical Education & Sports, Goa University have began a survey and got in touch with various sports persons through the state to get their feedback over the same.

“The covid-19 lockdown has posed challenges to sportsperson in terms of their training and daily routine. Being researchers in the field,  we (Dr Anil Ramachandran, Associate Professor, Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Kannur University, Kerala; Dr Rajan Mathew, Director of Physical Education, Govt. College, Quepem; and Milton Fernandes, Assistant Director of Physical Education & Sports, Goa University) are interested to know how you as a sportsperson have been able to cope with this lock-down restriction and how you are managing your training schedule and daily routine,” the three have written to different sportspersons and sought their feedback.

The sports professor’s survey focuses on many topics including the financial impact of the lockdown on their careers and the tournament or events they have missed during the Corona Virus Epidemic.

“Have you missed any important tournament/competition  you were preparing because of the lock-down?. Do you think that such loss and the lack of preparation and training during lock down will affect your sporting career at this juncture?

“Do you think that the lock down will add to the financial crisis to meet you training and competition post lock-down?,” they have asked.

The questions also touch the effect on their sporting careers post-Corona Virus.

“How much time do you think that you will require to get in shape and to the previous performance level after the lock-down period is over,” one of the questions asks the sports people.

The questions also touch on the mental health of the sports persons owing to the lack of sporting competitions.

“With uncertainty prevailing over the lock-down period, and no certainty of how long it will continue, are you facing greater mental toll (stress) in terms of keeping you motivated and fixing sporting career goal? Are you getting frustrated and depressed since you are not able to train and follow the daily routine you were following before the lock-down period?”, it adds.

The survey also seeks to know whether “there been increased or decreased engagement in the following activities - Exercise/Training, TV/Entertainment, Social media, Academic Pursuits, Business Pursuits , Online sources related to your game, Gardening, Household chores, Reading, Family time, Rest/Sleep, Other creative/innovative endeavours, Exercise/Training, TV/Entertainment, Social media, Academic Pursuits, Business Pursuits, Online sources related to your game, Gardening, Household chores, Reading, Family time, Rest/Sleep, Other creative/innovative endeavours -  during the lock-down period as compared to period before lock down?

The other questions relate to the number of training session before the lock down and during the lockdown period.

• How many sessions/hours were you practicing/playing/training before the lock-down period?

• How many hours do you train and involve in physical exercise during the lock down period ?

• What extent of training are you able to carry out during the lock-down as compared to your normal training period?

What type of training - Physical training, Skills and Technical training, Mental training, Yoga and Relaxation - do you do during the lock-down period to keep yourself fit and in shape?

• What are the different training modalities - Jogging/Running, Strength and Weight Training, Core and Stability Exercises, Circuit Training, Aerobics/Zumba and other dance forms, Yoga, Fitness training with resistance bands/Loops/Kettle-bells/Foam roller etc, Skipping - you are able to do during the lock-down period?

• Do you have advanced training facility at your home/residence during the lock down to meet your training requirements?

• What training facilities- Treadmill/ Cycle Ergometer, Multi-gym and advanced training equipment, General Weight Training Equipment, Resistance bands/Loops/Kettle-bells, etc, Skipping ropes / Cones and Training markers, Indoor Badminton Court, Outdoor Badminton Court, Courtyard, Terrace and Space inside House- do you have in your house for training?

• From where do you get training schedule - Coach,  Fitness Trainer, Coaching Academy, Friends and Peer players, Prepare on your own, From online sources from your academy/coaching center, From other online coaching sessions/videos - during the lock-down period?

• Are you regulating your dietary intake to compensate for the shortage of training and exercise?

• Are you taking assistance of a specialist dietitian to keep your body in shape and fit to re-start training post lock-down?

• Are you of the opinion that one needs to be equipped with basic training facilities and essential infrastructure at home itself to meet your training possibilities during such lock-down or emergency periods?

• If you are an injured athlete or recovering from injury/fitness issues do you have difficulties in getting assistance and support for rehabilitation and training?

Interested can fill up the form at http://forms.gle/H81zDZaTcySTZyA46

Ronaldo, Barcelona fan from India reaches out to poor people in Goa

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.

 

 

AFC Futsal instructor Joshuah Vaz conducts webinar for Goa and Maharashtra coaches

AFC Futsal instructor Joshuah Vaz conducts webinar for Goa and Maharashtra coaches

With social distancing and ban on gathering the norms of the day, many a sports associations are using the digital platform to inform and impart new training and coaching techniques to coaches.

The Goan futsal family has also adapted to the lockdown situation an

d are connecting coaches based in different parts of the state through the social networking website Zoom sessions.

Last week, Joshuah Vaz, an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) instructor conducted a webinar for over 60 coaches who are imparting Futsal training in different parts of Goa and in the second session to Futsal coaches operating in Maharashtra.

“it was good to interact with 60+ coaches in Goa session and 260+ coaches in Maharashtra session and it was a good platform to give the correct and accurate knowledge on Futsal,” said the former India Under-16 international and co-owner of Youth futsal Academy, which operates from Chowgule College ground.

“Online Zoom Webinar organised by AIFC (All India Football Coaches) & AIFF for the Coaches of India during this lockdown• I would like to thank @the_aifc & Coaches Shekar and Caetano Pinho for including FUTSAL as a topic for this programme and giving me an opportunity to present the topic to all the coaches that attended the Webinar in the GOA region. I believe that FUTSAL is the way forward to making better football players and the right knowledge and education about this sport is important,” twitted Joshua, who incidentally is the lone Futsal Level 1 instructor in the country having passed his exam in February this year.

Joshuah, a former professional footballer with I-league club Churchill Bros, also got a chance to talk on the Futsal topic with coaches working in Maharashtra.

 “I got a chance to speak on Futsal as a topic at the Online zoom Webinar organised by AIFC (All India Football Coaches) & AIFF thereby giving me an opportunity to present the topic to the 260+ coaches from Maharashtra region.

“I believe that Futsal is the way forward to making better football players and the right knowledge and education about this sport is important,” he added.

Joshua, who spent a year in Portugal in 2007-2008 season while training with Vitoria de Guimaraes club, was appreciative of the support and backing for the world most popular game from Aaditya Thackerey, who besides been an official of WIFA is a minister in the Maharashtra cabinet.

 “It was also good to see the support that the humble Mr.Aaditya Thackeray is giving to football in Mumbai and I am hoping that he soon puts his hands into bringing up t he sport of Futsal in the Indian Subcontinent,” said the 30-year-old Fatorda resident.

Joshuah webinar interaction with coaches came in for praise from one of the participant who took to twitter to give his feedback.

“@JoshuahVaz led a great session on Futsal today at #AIFCWebinar for Maharashtra coaches. He is the only AFC Futsal Instructor in our country and I have been lucky to have learnt about the game under him at @YFA_GOA previously too. Always a pleasure learning from you coach!,” wrote Surya Prakash on his twitter handle @SuryaPrakash7.

Coach Zubin tweeting on his tweeter handle @spinchronous said: “This was by far the best  @theaifc  webinar till date.  Thank you to  @DineshNair74 @AUThackeray @SuryaPrakash7 @AlexAmbrose19 & all those who made it happen.  Special thanks to  @JoshuahVaz  for an amazing intro into Futsal & hoping to attend a level 1 course in Mumbai soon.”

Indian football “a sleeping giant and a rising competitor" ????????

New Zealand Football Coach Fritz Schmid labelled India lying somewhere between “a sleeping giant and a rising competitor.” 

In an interview  prior to the kick-off of the Hero Intercontinental Cup, Schmid speaks at length about how he feels India will be more prepared for the tournament after their two-week camp, Stephen Constantine’s experience as a Coach, the Grassroots activities in India and much more. EXCERPTS:

What do you feel about Hero Intercontinental Cup which is in its first edition and being played in a new format?

I appreciate the opportunity to play in the hero Intercontinental Cup as for countries like us it provides an excellent option to play against three potential strong opponents and have a look at players who will take us forward for the future.

What impression do you have about Football in India?

India is somewhere between a sleeping giant and a rising competitor. It’s a big country and from my activity back in the Asian Football Confederation I realised there was a lot of activity at the top level with their professional league.

At the same time, they were trying to put things together for Grassroots and development aspects. I followed very closely their activities around the FIFA U-17 World Cup. There are a lot of efforts going on and it’s very important for them to put the pieces together to find their position in terms of popularity of the sport in direct comparison to cricket.

How much have you followed the Indian National Team prior to travelling to India? What do you expect while playing against India?

India have qualified for the AFC Asian Cup and it’s a big year for Indian Football. It’s understandable they are preparing for the Continental Championships while we are building up for a new campaign.

I know Stephen Constantine is a very experienced coach who has been successful in many different countries. I expect them to be really prepared especially after the two weeks of preparatory camp in Mumbai. It’s obvious they will stay focussed and will be very sharp. On top of it, they will be playing at home and it will be a tough challenge for us.

Are there any other challenges while playing in the Indian sub-continent?

We have to deal with the time difference and acclimatise to the weather which is a big difference from what we have back home at the moment. In addition, we are aware that we are facing two very competitive opponents in Kenya and India. While the former is preparing for the African Cup qualifications, India are getting ready for the AFC Asian Cup.

What is the significance of the Hero Intercontinental Cup in New Zealand Football?

Since we are in the beginning of a new campaign, it’s important for New Zealand to reassess and rebuild a new project. Obviously it’s very important for us to have an opportunity for international exposure specially for players who might not have been on the radar in the recent campaign.

Unfortunately, Winston Reid and Chris Wood are not travelling. While Winston is injured, Wood has just finished a very challenging season with Burnley. He has been playing non-stop and needs rest to recover from the demanding season.

 

ANAS IS MY ELDER BROTHER, SAYS SANDESH JHINGAN

MUMBAI: Days after Anas Edathodika acknowledged his admiration for fellow defender Sandesh Jhingan, the latter revealed his 'brotherly' bond with the former while donning the national colour.

"10-12 years ago when I was 13-years-old, I used to play with my elder brothers. The feeling was very special when I played with them. When I play with Anas, I get that same feeling. It's a very good feeling when I play with him, he is a brother to me, he's my elder brother," Jhingan said on the sidelines of the ongoing National Team camp in Mumbai.

Meanwhile, since Anas' National team debut which came against Cambodia last year, these two boys have given the opposition attackers a run for their money having secured four clean sheets in eleven matches when Stephen Constantine fielded them together at the heart of the defence.

"I learn from him, he is a top guy, very humble, I just feel lucky to be his friend. Hopefully, we will continue to play together and win trophies together with the national team", Jhingan further added.

The Punjab-born defender who has notched four crucial goals for India until now expressed his desire to add more to his tally if the situation demands. Although, he didn't forget to mention that his primary duty is to hold the defence and that's what he'll never compromise.

"Of course I want to contribute in attack (chuckles). I want to score or assist as many goals as possible. But if anyone asks me if you have a chance to score a goal or keep a clean sheet, then as a defender my priority would be to keep a clean sheet", the calm and composed centre-back declared.

On being asked about India's prospect in the Hero Intercontinental Cup, Jhingan commented, "This is the first time India are playing Kenya and they are a different team, the way they play football and the way it is played in their continent is something new for us to experience. I know they are going to be physical, but it will be a good test for us."

He further added: "In the Asian Cup, we are going to get physical teams. Bahrain is a physical team, so is UAE. So now if we play teams like Kenya we will get to know our weaknesses and on what aspects we need to work on before the Asian Cup."

Moreover, he did mention that these matches will help the team get a clear understanding of their preparation for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 which is on the horizon.

"You don't want to go and play against teams that are not strong or not at the same level. You want to play against teams that always keep you on your toes because that's how you learn."

"The friendly games are vital. Of course, the result is also important, but more important is to learn from them and you only learn when you play tough teams. To go into the Asian Cup in our best shape we have to play against tough teams," Jhingan mentioned.