Goa awaits its first national cricket icon, says Damu Naik

Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: BJP State President Damodar ‘Damu’ Naik expressed optimism that Goa will soon produce a national-level cricketer who will emerge as a definitive icon for the state.
Naik was speaking as the Chief Guest at the Grand Auction of the Junior Cricket Championship (JCC) organised by the Oxford Cricket Club in Borda, Margao, on Wednesday.
The Junior Cricket Championship will be held from February 25 to 28, with matches scheduled to be played at Arlem, Margao, and Vasco–Chicalim. The tournament will feature three age-group categories — U-15, U-14 and U-13.
The Grand Auction marked an important milestone for the championship, bringing together team owners, young talents, organisers and officials under one roof.
Notable attendees included JCC President Romeen Mulam, Mentor Sandeep Naik, and former Ranji player and Goa U-19 coach Robin D’Souza.
“Cricketing infrastructure was once a hurdle, but the development over the last few years has been significant,” Naik said. “With our theme ‘Fueling the Future’, we are creating a platform where children can thrive. Parents are now actively investing in their children’s diets, exercise and training. We are simply waiting for that one player to break through and become Goa’s national icon.”
Mulam shared the club’s journey, which began 20 years ago in Dubai under Mukhtar Khadri. He noted that while tennis-ball cricket auctions are common for adults, there was a gap when it came to opportunities for younger players.
“In 2023, I realised there was nothing like this for kids. For this edition, we had 196 players register, even though we initially capped it at 150,” Mulam said.
Mentor Sandeep Naik, former Ranji cricketer and coach, emphasised the importance of parental support.
“We need more parents to support us. This platform is not about winning or losing, but about giving children a stage to showcase their talent. I thank the owners of the eight teams for coming forward.”
Former Ranji player Robin D’Souza hailed the initiative, saying, “This is the foundation that is required. The standard of Goan cricket has improved and will rise further. That’s what has already happened at the junior level in the U-14 and U-16 categories.”