DUBAI Despite being one of the oldest and most experienced coaches in the UAE (30 years), Jairaj Thakur still terms his recent camp in India as an unique experience.
Director of coaching at JTS Cricket Academy, Dubai, Thakur held a two-day camp for adivasi (tribal) schoolkids in Ambagarh Choki in the highly sensitive Naxal belt of Chhattisgarh state in India.
“It was an amazing experience. There was so much enthusiasm among the kids, it was encouraging,” Thakur said.
“We had kids traveling from far-off villages just to attend the camps. Though rains did hamper our plans, we ensured it did not affect the boys and offered whatever training was possible in those two days,” he added.
Over 100 kids, who study in nearby schools funded by the government and missionaries, attended the camp. Thakur was assisted by former India player Jayantilal Kenia.
“I always wanted to do this. I closely follow hockey in India and I observed that most of the boys in the team were from adivasi families. So I thought if they can play hockey then why not cricket. So I began doing my research and stumbled upon this area and got in touch with the local people.
“They were excited and readily agreed to it. Though it was for just two days, it was very fruitful,” he added.
Following the positive response, Thakur is chalking out major plans including a long-term coaching camp for the boys by the year end.
“These are highly sensitive areas and no one would be interested to go there. But let me admit, we found boys who are extremely talented.
There were hardly any facilities , but the boys showed a lot of enthusiasm. They were not scared to throw themselves around on grounds which with pebbles and stones.
“It’s important to groom these kids at the grassroots level. I managed to fund them kits worth Rs 40,000 before I left, but I want to do more in the future. I’m also looking at having a permanent coaching centre there that can groom these kids into professional cricketers,” he said.
“Chhattisgarh still does not have a state team, but hopefully they should be getting recognition soon. If that happens I can promise you many kids from this belt will be in contention,” he added.
