The buzz around baskeball has long dissipated.Clearly, the Goa Basketball Association (GBA) has proved to be a disasterfailing to keep the sport. Secretary general of Goa Olympic Association,Gurudatta Bhakta is absolutely livid with the state association and wants thegovernment to file a criminal case against the GBA headed by C F Vaz.
"The government should form aninvestigation committee and conduct an inquiry into the Goa BasketballAssociation headed by C F Vaz. The GBA is known to select teams and send themon the basis of funds collected from the players' parents. And then theseplayers do not even get sports policy benefits. This is also pathetic giventhat the state government helps all recognised associations, to take care ofthe players. As far as the G.O.A isconcerned, there is no basketball association in the state. For the LusofoniaGames, we will field a team with support from S.A.G after seeking permissionfrom Indian Olympic Association," Bhakta told The Goan.
S.A.G Executive Director, Elvis Gomes tried toget the association headed by Vaz and secretary Shekhar Jain, to come to termswith reality. But nothing much seems to be happening as the nationalfederation, BFI, has also added to the confusion by making a baffling move ofappointing Jain as manager of India Under-18 basketball team for the BasketballChampionship in Mongolia.
It is fair to say that the authoritiesgoverning Goan sports bodies tried their best but nothing worked. Once when theG.O.A conducted elections for a new managing committee way back in August 2001,it looked like the worst was over. However, the new-GBA body under RichardPinto, was dragged to court and a status-quo meant that Vaz still holds thereigns despite not taking part in the elections.
The upcoming Lusofonia Games could be ablessing in disguise as the Goa Olympic Association and Sports Authority of Goawill aim to select the team through highly-qualified coaches. The basketballfraternity should be hopeful now for it's high time this sport gets a fairdeal.
