The Sports Authority of Goa is experiencing tumult due todevelopments off the field, making it difficult for its coaches to focus on theimportant task of training the states talented young athletes.
There are over 143 personnel working for the SAG, who trainyoung and talented athletes. However inquiries by The Goan have revealed thatonly 52 coaches in the SAG are trained and qualified, to be involved in thecoaching of the state’s young athletes. The rest of the personnel involved intraining young athletes have been recruited due to political pressure. Multipleissues like the regularisation of preliminary coaches, earning degrees/diplomasthrough recognised institutions to be called coaches and the creation ofone-off job like assistant-project officer is proving detrimental to thecamaraderie among the SAG coaches.
A coach employed with the SAG, who wished to remainanonymous, said “The SIA in Delhi is focused on 24 priority and non-prioritysports with the intention of winning medals in the Olympics and otherinternational tournaments. In Goa however, the SAG recognised 40 odd sportslike tennis ball cricket, skipping and bodybuilding to name a few. Many of theuntrained coaches would use their political influence to come in as apreliminary coach and then five years later give another letter from theminister, for an increment and a permanent letter. Many of these coaches arekeen on getting in to the SAG, since it is a guaranteed lifelong job. They arenot interested in learning the developments taking place in their sport. “Focus,he said was missing in the organisation because of these issues.
Elvis Gomes, Executive Director, SAG said “The problem ofpolitical appointees existed before I took over. With regards to the issue ofappointees made by the previous government just before the code of conduct,that will be sorted out. We are waiting for a decision from the government. “Askedwhen this would happen he said it would happen shortly.
Sports lovers in the state can only hope that these issuesare sorted out at the earliest. Otherwise the taste of disappointment shallonly continue to linger as the state experiences disappointment in nationalchampionships.
