Net Gains: Old-timers keen to spark volleyball revival

Panaji: May has seen an unusual frenzy in Goan volleyball, particularly among old-timers.
Two exhibition games in Santa Cruz and Shirgal in Pernem taluka got the yesteryear stars back on the court, exercising, wrapping their knees in thick pads, and showing just what kept people awake at night to see them play. Of course, they aren’t quarter as good as they were in the good old days, but their return is still making waves for old times' sake.
It’s not just the men.
The women too got together and started playing again. As one star player remarked, “give us some more time, it’s been 30 years since I last played.” The absence never showed on the court when the women played two friendlies, the second one much more competitive than the one in Santa Cruz earlier this month.
Leading the women is Betty D’Silva, who when still in her teens was handpicked to attend the national camp to select the Indian volleyball team for the Asian Games in 1982. Even now, she can make players who are younger than her children watch in awe.
Bina Naik, who would have made it to the Asiad if not for an injury, is also part of the revival.
Now, the women want to turn this revival into something more tangible.
Led by Betty, the Goa Masters Women Volleyball Association (GMWVA) has taken shape, and they’ve pledged to play their role to get the sport back on track. Volleyball is still popular, largely in interior Goa, but nowhere close to the love and admiration it enjoyed from fans till the late nineties when it was considered second only to football.
“We want to try and see if this new interest in volleyball can be used to help the sport in a meaningful manner,” said Kennedy D’Silva, advisor to the Goa Masters Women Volleyball Association.
For a start, the GMWVA in collaboration with Santa Barbara SC will organise the Goa Women’s Volleyball Revival Day at Santa Barbara SC ground, Santa Cruz, on May 23 from 4-7pm. The initiative seeks to revive and celebrate women’s volleyball in Goa by bringing together multiple generations of players on one common platform.
“This event aims to reconnect former players with the sport while inspiring young girls to take up volleyball with passion and confidence,” the association said in a statement on Friday.
The participants will include school and college players, working women, senior players who represented Goa at State, University and National levels, besides recreational players who are simply returning to the sport they love.
“Unlike conventional tournaments focused purely on competition, this revival event emphasises participation, fellowship, fitness, memories, mentorship and sporting spirit. Four balanced teams will participate in a round-robin league format with short matches designed to ensure that every participant gets an opportunity to play through unlimited substitutions and mandatory rotation,” said GMWVA.
The women have taken the lead. The men won’t be too far behind.