Our recent coaching courses took a new dimension with an exchange program. The initiative brought Suraj Kerketta, an experienced coach from our program in Jharkhand, to Pune as a co-trainer. In return Abhijit Gangawane, program coordinator in Pune, joined the coaching course in Khunti, Jharkhand. What he found there changed his perspective, not just on hockey, but on his role as a coach and leader.
Challenging coach and players
The grassroots hockey program in Jharkhand started almost one decade ago, while the program in Pune district launched just over a year ago. This adds to a contrast in hockey culture. In Pune, many children start from zero, while in Jharkhand even the youngest players already know basics of hockey. Abhijit reflects:
“It challenged me as a coach, I had to design new drills that match the players’ level and keep them engaged. That pushed me to grow. On top of that, some coaches have stayed at hockey academies with many years of playing lots of hockey. They shared a lot of their stories and it made me realise how much there is still to learn, and how valuable patience is when working with kids.”
Organisation and long-term impact
This coaching exchange is more than a training exercise, it’s a model for local leadership, ownership and long-term impact. Beyond this technical aspect, Abhijit – who has been coordinating the newer Pune program for just over a year – discovered also the bigger organisation. The Jharkhand team runs 90 centres with over 50 coaches each with clear roles, delegated responsibilities and structured planning. For Abhijit, it was a wake-up call.
“I used to focus mostly on coordinating school sessions. Now I see how my role must go beyond that. To support coaches, improve planning and help sessions run smoothly. This trip gave me the vision to grow into that leadership role.”
One of the most surprising moments came when Abhijit watched a coach in his fifties lead a high-level session with calm authority and playful energy right in the middle of a remote village. Dozens of children played while parents and grandparents watched from the sidelines.
“That moment really hit me. Grassroots hockey at its best where culture, sport and community come together. I saw what the future of our own program in Pune could become.”
Exchange experience
Abhijit reflects on his trip to Jharkhand and seeing the program there:
“I was so happy when I saw the flood of coaches at Khunti, the kids are so lucky that they have so many coaches helping them to improve as a sportsperson and develop into good humans with the life skills training. It was a great coaching course with lots of learning and I got to meet a lot of new coaches with different hockey cultures. Definitely I have new friends who are good coaches doing great work with the kids. A big thanks to the Bovelander Foundation and CInI for providing me this opportunity. Thank you to instructors Erik and Dirkie for the valuable feedback and the coaching guidance you have given to me.”
Sport for Development program
The Sport for Development partnership (2024-2025) is a government-funded program designed in cooperation with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The partnership – with Royal Dutch Hockey Association, Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB), International Sports Alliance, and Right To Play – uses sport as catalyst for positive social change to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals. Within this program, Bovelander Foundation and Hockey Dreams Foundation are implementing partners for the KNHB. Thanks to the Sport for Development program we have, among others, been able to strengthen our program in Khunti (Jharkhand) through the Bovelander Foundation coaching courses.
