On March 30, Matunga’s Don Bosco High School became Mumbai’s first school to develop a full-sized hockey ground at its disposal. The Fédération Internationale de Hockey (FIH)-approved astroturf is a 91.4m x 55m ground at the Salesians’ disposal and was inaugurated by the Provincial Fr. Godfrey D`Souza, in presence of former international hockey players including former Indian Hockey team captain, Dhanraj Pillay.
Pillay who played 339 international matches between December 1989 to August 2004, addressed the students and the parents and said,
These students are tomorrow's young hockey players. Since Bombay has now received one more turf for the young players to practice, it is my appeal to the parents to put their children to sports. Sports is now receiving status as a full-time career.”
Providing his own example, he said that just like him many players will be coming from a small background but in the end, he went on to represent the country. Therefore, he wanted the players to persistently keep trying. He also thanked the players and coaches for being available for the sport.
Don Bosco High School has been a major name when it comes to providing the platform to young talents. Over the years, there have been numerous players who learned to shape their talent in sports through the institution established in 1950.
After the turf’s inauguration in the school, an exhibition match between former international stars and the Don Bosco team was also played. The young players got a chance to rub their shoulders with the likes of Dhanraj Pillay, Joaquim Carvalho, Marcellus Gomes, Merwyn Fernandes, Gavin Ferreira, and various others.
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