Former India hockey forward Gavin Ferreira, 54, was known for his deft runs down the left flank, often picking up stray balls and converting them into meaningful passes and sometimes, goals.
His latest assignment as Chief Advisor to the Bihar State Sports Authority (BSSA) and Head Coach of BSSA’s hockey academy at the newly-built Rajgir Stadium is somewhat similar. Having taken up the responsibility of uplifting the sport in a state not known for its hockey prowess, Ferreira is excited to pick up this ‘stray ball’ and convert it into something meaningful.
Bihar State Sports Authority’s academy Head Coach Gavin Ferreira (centre) during a training session at the Rajgir Stadium on Friday
“Earlier this year, Harendra Singh [current India women’s hockey coach] informed me that the BSSA are on the lookout for someone to structure their hockey system. So, I sent my application to Raveendran Sankaran [Director General cum CEO of Bihar State Sports Authority] and after a few discussions, I took up the position in June,” Ferreira, a 1996 Atlanta Olympian, who represented India from 1992 to 1998, told mid-day after a training session with the BSSA academy kids in Rajgir on Friday.
‘Great experience so far’
“It’s been a great experience so far, coaching around 60 boys and girls from the age of 12 to 19 at the BSSA academy which offers excellent facilities. The complete kit, diet and all other boarding and lodging needs of these youngsters are taken care of by the state. The players have to only focus on their hockey,” said Ferreira, a former Air India employee, and resident of Orlem, Malad.
“It’s a new set-up so almost everything is in its infancy, but there is a lot of promise, potential and enthusiasm among the players here. The recent intra-state junior tournaments for boys and girls saw over 400 players participating. From here, we [Ferreira has three coaches under him] have shortlisted players to pick the junior boys and girls teams for the upcoming Junior Nationals next month,” added Ferreira, a member of India’s 1994 Sydney World Cup team.
The Hockey India-organised girls Jr Nationals will be held from August 1-12 in, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, while the boys Jr Nationals are from August 12-24 in Jalandhar, Punjab. Bihar’s teams have been placed in the ‘B’ Division (between the top-tier ‘A’ Division and the third-placed ‘C’ Division). Ferreira, who coached the Indian hockey team to the bronze medal at the 2007 Indoor Asian Games in Macau, aims to elevate Bihar’s junior teams to ‘A’ Division by next season.
‘Kids have power, speed’
“While the skill levels of the kids here cannot be compared to that of players from established hockey-playing states like Karnataka, Odisha, Punjab or Haryana, they have raw power and natural speed. Also, most of the players are from humble backgrounds, being children of farmers or daily labourers, so they are extremely hardworking and sincere. I have no doubt that we will not only lift this team into the A Division, but by the end of my three-year tenure here, we will have a few players in the Junior India camp or better still even the Senior India camp,” concluded Ferreira.
