The Shivaji Park and cricket are quickly connected with Dadar among the sporting community. But, now the Dr. Antonio da Silva High School, Dadar (West) will boast of adding another sporting pride to the bustling Dadar locality. Students from the school and from the neighbouring schools will have the opportunity to play and train on the multi-sports facility at the Dr. Antonio da Silva Sports Academy. Artificial turfs for football, mini hockey and multi-sport facility for volleyball, basketball, and tennis was inaugurated by Chief Guests three-time Olympian and Arjuna Awardee Merwyn Fernandis, a hockey gold medal winner at the 1980 Moscow Games and Bishop Dominic Savio Fernandes on Saturday evening at the academy, inside Dr Antonio da Silva School.
Chief Guests, three-time Olympian and Arjuna Awardee Merwyn Fernandis (right), a hockey gold medal winner at the 1980 Moscow Games lights the lamp at the inauguration function of the artificial turfs at the Dr. Antonio da Silva High School, Dadar (West) on Saturday evening.
Other dignitaries present on the occasion, included Rev. Fr. Barthol Machado, Parish Priest Our Lady of Salvation Church, Sandeep Deshpande, Municipal Corporator G-North ward, Henry Menezes, former India football goalkeeper and CEO WIFA and Digambar Kandarkar, MDFA President, Trustees, Joseph D’Souza, Adrian D’Silva, Errol Murzello, Renzo Rodrigues; the Principals and teaching staff. Parents of the students were also present in large numbers.
The purpose of these initiatives was to usher in the Sesquicentennial celebrations, as the school, which was founded in 1868, completes 150 years in 2017.
Speaking on the occasion, Fernandis said “It’s a dream to have such wonderful playing facilities in schools now days. The parents and children from the schools should take full advantage on these hockey and football facility and one day go on to play for the nation.”
“I am confident that some of students will make it to the Indian team and I will come again to the schools to congratulate them,” Fernandis further stated.
Bishop Fernandes praised the management for giving the children such good playing grounds. “It’s a great effort by the Dr. Antonio da Silva School management. The trustees have done a wonderful job and I pray to God to bless their efforts and hope the children benefit from the facilities,” he prayed.
A colourful ceremony marked the opening function, with young kids greeted the guest with the traditional arti welcome, which was followed by a cultural Maharashtrian (leezim) dance. The school band was also in attendance.
The natural grass surface has been replaced with 4th Generation artificial turfs, imported from different countries in Europe. The total area of the football ground is approximately of 21,000sq/ft (205/105 sq/ft), while the hockey surface is a mini ground of 4,500 sq/ft (50/90 sq ft) and the playing area of the multisport facility, on which students can play tennis, basketball, volleyball and also cricket, is also 4,500 sq/ft.
Some of the prominent students from the schools who have represented India, are Farook Engineer and Rusi Surti (both cricket), Gilbert Lobo and Clarence Lobo (both hockey). National table tennis player Shubham Ambre is an ex-student, while Mandar Chiplunkar another upcoming paddler is a student of the school. The recent success of the school has been winning the Inter-Schools Harris Shield (Plate Division) cricket title.