DUBAI Work has officially begun on the pilot project that will see a full-fledged sports village for tribal kids take shape by mid-2016 in India.
The plan is a dream project of UAE-based Maxtalent Sports and Education Institution Trust, which runs several cricket academies in the UAE. “It’s a massive project,” said Sudhakar Shetty, managing director of Maxtalent Global.
“A lot of planning has gone into this project and it’s a vision with lot of hopes,” he added.
The sports village, which is coming up at Dugad in Thane district, is expected to be completed this May. It will house 25 tribal kids, both boys and girls from the remote villages for the first phase. They will be provided with all facilities, including basic education and fitness training but cricket will be the main focus.
“‘Be equal and feel equal’ is the concept. We all know the tribals in India have been a neglected lot. They also have the right to lead a normal life and have every right to have access to everything like a normal person in the country has.
Long term target
“We need to understand that these tribal kids are extremely talented and there is a need to tap the talent. We all know how M.S. Dhoni (Team India captain) made his way to the top coming from a village.
“So the main objective of the project is to provide an opportunity to these kids. We will start off with 25 kids, but our long term target will be 50 kids,” Shetty added.
The sports village will feature a cricket ground and several practice pitches. “We also plan to build a school inside the campus so that the kids learn and then play cricket. We will also arrange transport facilities to pick and drop them from home to the ground,” explained Shetty.
There also will be provision to accommodate other sports including basketball, tennis, badminton, hockey and football.
“The entire project involves a huge investment. We would be looking out for options that can sustain the project so renting out to corporate houses and having other sports activities can help in generating the funds.
“We are also hoping some corporates or individuals come on board to support us during the setting up of the cricket village which can further add value to the entire project,” Shetty said.
He added that once the village was complete it would also benefit the boys in his academies in the UAE.
“It will be a big opportunity for young cricketers in the UAE. Getting a chance to play in India against some of the best teams from Mumbai in this facility can be a wonderful experience,” Shetty said.
