Tag: grassroots cricket

Sports

Junior Cricket Championship 2026 Set to Bowl Off in Goa

Tanisha Cardozo

The Junior Cricket Championship 2026 is all set to bring an exciting wave of grassroots cricket action to Goa as young talents gear up to showcase their skills from February 25 to 28. Organised by Oxford Cricket Club, the tournament will be held across two venues—Arlem Ground in Margao and Chicalim Ground in Vasco—creating a competitive yet nurturing environment for budding cricketers.

Spanning four days, the championship will feature three key age categories—U-15, U-14, and U-13—ensuring a broad platform for emerging players at different stages of development. Matches will follow a 25-over format, scheduled across morning and afternoon sessions, allowing for a packed and engaging tournament structure. The league stage will culminate in a third-place playoff and the grand finale on February 28, promising a thrilling conclusion.

A total of eight teams have been divided into two groups, setting the stage for intense competition. Group A includes Dhadsakal Star, AK Rangers, Banjara Cricket Club and Ghumteshwar, while Group B features Oxford, MCC, Panjim Challengers and Porvorim Panthers. With teams evenly matched, the championship is expected to deliver high-energy encounters leading into the knockout rounds.

The tournament, powered by CricHeroes, reflects a growing emphasis on structured cricket at the grassroots level in Goa. Speaking about the initiative, JCC President Romeen Mulam shared that the idea stemmed from a noticeable gap in organised opportunities for young players. While tennis-ball cricket tournaments and auctions are common among adults, similar platforms for children were largely absent until recent efforts.

Mulam recalled that the club itself was founded two decades ago in Dubai under the guidance of Mukhtar Khadri, with a vision to create meaningful cricketing opportunities. Bringing that vision to Goa, the championship aims to bridge the gap and offer young players a chance to experience competitive cricket in a professional setup.

The response to the tournament has been overwhelmingly positive. Despite initially capping participation at 150 players, registrations surged to 196, reflecting strong interest from both players and parents. This enthusiasm underlines the growing appetite for structured sporting opportunities among Goa’s youth.

Mulam also acknowledged the support extended by the Goa Cricket Association and the Sports Authority of Goa, which has been instrumental in ensuring the smooth conduct of the event. Their involvement further strengthens the credibility and scale of the championship.

Beyond the matches and competition, the organisers envision the Junior Cricket Championship as a long-term initiative that will become a staple in Goa’s sporting calendar. By providing consistent exposure and a professional framework, the tournament seeks to nurture talent at an early stage and contribute to the development of future cricket stars from the region.

As the tournament gets underway, cricket enthusiasts, parents and supporters are invited to witness the action unfold and cheer on the next generation of Goan cricketers. With high energy, competitive spirit and raw talent on display, the Junior Cricket Championship 2026 promises to be a celebration of youth, passion and the future of cricket in Goa.

Sports

GCA Office Bearers Attend 21st Manorva Cup Final Prize Distribution in Chapora

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

Goa Cricket Association President Mahesh Dessai and Secretary Tulsidas Shetye attended the prize distribution ceremony of the 21st All Goa Season Ball Cricket Tournament, popularly known as the Manorva Cup, organised by the Manorva Sports and Cultural Club at the Chapora Panchayat Ground. Their presence added significance to the concluding ceremony of one of Goa’s well-known local cricket tournaments.

Addressing the gathering, Mahesh Dessai, a former Ranji player, appreciated the efforts of the local MLA for initiating the development of a cricket ground in the area. He emphasised that proper infrastructure plays a vital role in strengthening cricket at the grassroots level and provides young players with the right environment to grow and excel. He also urged budding cricketers to remain disciplined, focused and committed to the sport.

Dessai highlighted the Goa Cricket Association’s ongoing initiatives to establish rural cricket centres across the state. These centres aim to identify talent from villages, nurture young players and offer them opportunities to progress to higher levels of competitive cricket.

GCA Secretary Tulsidas Shetye echoed similar sentiments and congratulated the organisers for successfully conducting the tournament. He noted that the Manorva Cup has consistently contributed to promoting cricket across Goa and encouraging participation at the community level.

In the final match, Mauli Sports Club, Nadora registered a dominant nine-wicket victory over Prestige 11. Batting first, Prestige 11 were bowled out for 136 runs in 19.3 overs. Mauli Sports Club chased the target comfortably, scoring 139 runs for the loss of just one wicket in 14.1 overs. Yogesh Kauthankar impressed with the ball for Mauli, claiming three wickets for 13 runs, while Sankalp Gawas remained unbeaten on 55 and Sachin Gawas scored an unbeaten 65 to seal a convincing win.

The successful conclusion of the 21st Manorva Cup once again underlined the importance of local tournaments in nurturing cricketing talent and sustaining the spirit of the game across Goa.

Sports

Gauri Warriors Clinch Imperial T20 League 2025 Crown

allycaralgoa

Panaji:
V Strikers Sports Club successfully organised the Imperial T20 League 2025, a leather-ball cricket tournament held from November 16 to December 21 at the Shri Shantadurga Devasthan ground, opposite Government College, Khandola. The tournament brought together competitive club sides from across Goa, highlighting the depth of talent at the grassroots level.

The tournament concluded in the presence of prominent dignitaries including Goa Cricket Association President Shri Mahesh Dessai, GCA Vice President Shri Paresh Phadte, Betki-Khandola Sarpanch Shri Dilip Naik, and V Strikers Sports Club President Shri Praviraj Haldankar. Shri Mahesh Dessai was felicitated for his consistent efforts and encouragement towards the development of cricket across Goa, particularly at the club and grassroots level.

In a thrilling final, Gauri Warriors emerged champions after defeating Shree Mahalasa Sanskrutik Mandal. Winning the toss, Gauri Warriors elected to bat first and posted a competitive total of 139 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs. Prajesh Parab anchored the innings with a steady 41 off 39 balls, while Ajay Phadte (24), Vishal Vernekar (18), and Hiru Naik (16) provided valuable support. For Shree Mahalasa, Ramanand Satarkar impressed with figures of 3 for 30, while Gauresh Sawant chipped in with 2 for 17.

Chasing 140, Shree Mahalasa Sanskrutik Mandal were bundled out for 101 in 17.5 overs, despite a fighting knock of 36 off 28 balls by Mohit Gaonkar. The highlight of the final was an extraordinary bowling performance by Avnish Gaonkar, who claimed 6 wickets for just 8 runs in 3.1 overs, dismantling the opposition batting line-up. He received excellent support from Utkarsh Gaonkar, who picked up 3 for 25.

Club De Sateri and Green Strikers finished as the semi-finalists of the tournament.

Individual Awards:

  • Player of the Final: Avnish Gaonkar
  • Player of the Tournament: Sanket Jotkar
  • Best Batsman: Chetan Bhosle
  • Best Bowler: Ramanand Satarkar
  • Best Fielder: Ramanand Satarkar
  • Emerging Player: Tanmay Talekar

The prize distribution ceremony was smoothly conducted by Sutrasanchalak Chetan Palkar. The organisers thanked the Goa Cricket Association, participating teams, officials, and supporters for their cooperation and reiterated their commitment to nurturing cricket at the grassroots level in Goa.

Sports

GCA Conducts U-14 Boys’ State Team Trials at Porvorim

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

The Goa Cricket Association successfully conducted the U-14 Boys’ State Team Trials for the 2025–26 season on December 11 and 12 at Porvorim, offering young cricketers from across the state an opportunity to showcase their skills and stake a claim for state selection. The trials attracted promising talent, reflecting the growing interest and depth of grassroots cricket in Goa.

Players were assessed on various aspects of the game, including batting, bowling, fielding and overall match awareness, as selectors closely observed performances over the two-day process. The trials were supervised by GCA Secretary Tulshidas Shetye, Joint Secretary Anant Naik, Senior Director Prakash Mayenkar, Junior Director Sharad Padnekar, Chairman Sahil Dhuri, along with the association’s coaching staff.

The presence of senior officials ensured that the selection process was conducted in a transparent, fair and well-organised manner, in line with the association’s commitment to nurturing young talent and strengthening the state’s cricketing future. The trials form a crucial step in identifying players who will represent Goa in the upcoming domestic season, while also motivating young athletes to continue developing their skills at the grassroots level.

Through initiatives like these trials, the Goa Cricket Association continues to focus on building a strong foundation for cricket in the state, encouraging participation, discipline and excellence among the next generation of players.

Sports

Alcon GSB Unity Cup 3.0 Auction Set for October 4 at Taj Vivanta, Panaji

Tanisha Cardozo

The Alcon GSB Unity Cup 3.0 is gearing up for its most anticipated event — the Grand Auction — to be held on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at 4:00 PM at Taj Vivanta, Panaji. Organised by the Goa GSB Sports & Charitable Trust and powered by Alcon Anil Counto Enterprises, the auction will finalize team compositions for the third edition of the prestigious GSB Unity Cup, a grassroots-level cricket tournament bringing together talent, passion, and community engagement.

This year, a total of 187 players registered for the tournament, out of which 180 will go under the hammer. The auction sets the stage for intense action and strategic bidding as 10 teams compete for top cricketing talent. The auction will be followed by an official inaugural ceremony between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM, which will include the Trophy and Jersey unveiling along with the felicitation of team owners.

The chief guest for the evening will be Mr. Shrinivas Dempo, a well-respected name in Goan sports and business circles. Mr. Yogiraj Kamat will attend as the Guest of Honour, with Mr. Aakash Khaunte as Special Invitee. The event promises to be a perfect blend of sportsmanship, strategy, and celebration.

The 10 teams competing this year and their respective owners are: CD Fountainhead (Chirag Datta Naik and Gaurav Borkar), Sinq Rangers (Sahil Adwalpalkar and Sanket Singbal), Madgaon Royals Cricket Club (Ashish Dukle and Adv Sahish Mahambrey), Desserts n More Avengers (Dr. Sagar Salgaocar), Priority Titans (Parind Nachinolkar & Swapneel Nachinolkar), KK Strikers (Kewal Kane and Amit Kamat), Shamrao Tridents (Prathamesh Sukhtankar), Dempo Challengers (Shrinivas Dempo), Vimson Panjim Powerplay (Harshvardhan Bhatkuly and Siddhant Amonkar), and Rising Stars of Ponda (Dr. Ketan Bhatikar).

This year’s tournament will be played across MCC in Margao and Panjim Gymkhana in January–February 2026. Venkat Biche is serving as the Chief Coordinator for the tournament and has been instrumental in shaping its structure and execution. The auction evening will also feature the presentation of mementoes to dignitaries, inspiring speeches, and a showcase of players and teams to watch out for in this highly anticipated edition of the Unity Cup.