Putting aside a rather indifferent first season as coach of GCA senior side, Prakash Mayenkar's re-appointment at the helm of a 15-member strong side has indicated that he has the faith reposed by the powers-that-be to take the bunch of lads under his stead to the next level.
PANAJI
"I received a call from GCA on Friday stating that I would be coaching the Goa side for the All India Corormandal King Moin-Ud-Dowlah Gold Cup to be held at Hyderabad from August 22-31 and met the hopefuls at the Academy ground only the following day," the seasoned coach revealed. Stating further he said that around 34 GCA registered players have been undergoing a fitness camp for the last 15-20 days in Porvorim. "Basically their agility, strengthening, weight-lifting was seen to in the period under the watchful eyes of physio Vivek Mishra and trainer Prabhakar," Mayenkar stated.
While maintaining that the fitness camp will be beneficial to his players ahead of the invitational one-day tournament in Hyderabad, he made no bones to the fact that they had no proper net sessions yet which is pretty much the case elsewhere apart from NCA, Bengaluru at this time of the year. "The team entering the tournament in Hyderabad will lack in net sessions particularly, the fast bowlers because of the run-up, but I have faith in the boys that their experience will help them adjust quickly to playing matches directly against top teams," a positive coach said. In reply to another question posed by The Goan, Mayenkar stated that the team is virtually the same as in the last three odd years apart from 2-3 changes coming into the mix. "Among the inclusions, Sumiran Amonkar, Suyash Prabhudessai, Srinivas Fadte (batsmen), Samar Dubhashi (wicketkeeper), Felix Alemao (seamer) all debuted last season, while talented former U-19 World Cupper pacer Heramb Parab makes the senior grade and Vedant Naik (off-break bowler) makes a comeback.
Asked for his thoughts on the teams GCA will take on in the group phase in Hyderabad, Mayenkar opined that all are good teams and on a given day the performance is what eventually matters. "I had met the tourney hopefuls on Saturday ahead of the team announcement and had a general interaction. I will have a good talk with the selected boys only on 21st as we depart for the Deccan city," Mayenkar added. "(Given to continuity) Post the tournament, I will work on the players skills for a few days, involve them in a lot of practice, nets and fielding sessions to iron out a few flaws in technique," the coach further said.
For the forthcoming tourney, he had his two cents to offer for his team. "I would tell the batsmen to just play their game, spend time on the wicket, once they settle in at the crease it will be easy for them. Stay focused. While I know it will not be easy on the bowlers, I would still urge them to give their 100 per cent and given that their fitness is good, they will survive the (at least) four matches."
