Panaji: Sagun Kamat is delighted with the facilities on offer for youngsters these days as he coaches the next generation at Panjim Gymkhana Cricket Academy. He might not have started early and taken formal coaching, yet with bit-part coaching inputs; hard-working and talented Sagun went on to become one of Goa’s all-time great batsmen as he notched up over 5000 runs in 90 Ranji Trophy matches.
Armed with BCCI Level 2 certificate, Sagun has completed four months in his first coaching job. He analyses the present times positively, especially with the combination of Panjim Gymkhana’s iconic reputation and top-notch facilities continuing to draw over 50 trainees of 9 to 14 years age-group; even as the Monsoons loom.
“It’s a good assignment. We have to deal with a lot of patience as we don’t get results instantly. We have to make the kids understand what cricket is… At the same time, we need to see that we give them the sense of enjoyment. I am also pleasantly surprised to see a supportive attitude of the parents. And with an indoor nets facility getting ready, we will keep working on the youngsters through the rainy season, which is a great development,” Sagun told www.thegoancricketer.com
Focus on the basics, looking for constant yet subtle improvement, taking out the fear of the ball by using bowling machines – are the key aspects, the coaching staff are working on. Even as the rainy season looms, their task is cut out with the aim of maintaining the enthusiastic youngsters in the training mindset.
The trainees went through a swimming session on Tuesday. And with an indoor facility set to be commissioned later this month at Panjim Gymkhana, the youngsters can look forward to getting back to the cricketing workout.
“For time-being, the academy players will go through swimming and gym sessions where body-weight training will be imparted with the aim of underlining the importance of fitness from young age,” said Sagun.
While it has been purely a coaching programme implemented since the academy launch earlier this year, Sagun is hopeful of introducing the trainees to competitive flavour via inter-academy matches, next season.
