by BIS Correspondent
PUNE, MAR 9, 2016: Students and staff of Don Bosco High School in Yerwada have yet another reason to be proud of their institution, as the management inaugurated an astro-turf pitch and a newly-laid basketball court on March 26, to give students an opportunity to develop their sporting potential.
Father Savio Silveira, Vice Provincial of the Mumbai province, blessed the newly-laid surface, which is of international standard. This turf has been instituted to promote football at a grass-root level, to train underprivileged boys and girls for football and basketball and motivate them to aspire to represent India at the highest levels.
The turf is fitted with 60 mm artificial grass with an infill of rubber granules and silica sand, while the basketball court is made of eight layers of rubberizes and a synthetic surface.
Sambhaji Kadam, a former India basketball captain, Father Anton D'Souza, parish priest of Sacred Heart parish, Father Bosco D'Mello, Father Francis Fernandes and Father Cletus D'Souza were present at the inauguration.
Father Silveira, in his address, reminded the gathering of the playground being the most important place in moulding youngsters, according to the Don Bosco Way. He encouraged the community to keep this facility open to the underprivileged youngsters as per the vision of Don Bosco and also to motivate the youth to make a career in sports and not just for recreation.
Father Silveira, in his address, reminded the gathering of the playground being the most important place in moulding youngsters, according to the Don Bosco Way. He encouraged the community to keep this facility open to the underprivileged youngsters as per the vision of Don Bosco and also to motivate the youth to make a career in sports and not just for recreation.
The community of Don Bosco, Nerul, generously sponsored the project. Past pupils and the Youth for Christ, the parish youth team, put the turf surface to test shortly after the inauguration by competing in an exhibition match.
On Easter Sunday, the parish youth organised an inter-zonal basketball and seven-a-side football tournament. Each zone of the parish put up teams for basketball and football. The parish community gathered in the afternoon to witness the grand event. Our Lady of Lourdes zone won both the basketball and football tournament.