MARGAO
Former Ranji Trophy vice-captain Hemant Angle transitioned into coaching after retiring from playing. He served with distinction for several decades as a coach with the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG), mentoring many young players, until his retirement in 2018.
For all records Angle has retired as a SAG coach even as he continues to serve as coach at his own private cricket coaching facility in Margao.
But, although the former off spinner retired six years back his name still figures on the outdated website of SAG.
“I have retired in 2018 from SAG as a coach”, said the Margao-based Angle. When it was pointed out to him that his name still figures on the SAG website on the list of coaches working for the Goa government, he shot back in a lighter vein “then they should be giving me salary.”
Angle is not the only one whose name is on the website with other details about the schools and grounds where they practice and the time of training and days on which they train at a particular venue.
Down South in Agonda Ulhas Dessai, the lanky left arm fast bowler did not play for the State team but was tough customer for opposition batsman to negotiate, post-retirement from the game turned to coaching and was recruited by SAG and posted at Agonda Sports Complex as a cricket coach.
Dessai too retired a few years back as a SAG coach but his name also features in the list.
“SAG has not appointed any coach in place of Dessai in Agonda after his retirement and the absence of a coach is felt by many local children especially those from Agonda and surrounding areas who used to come to Agonda ground for training,” a physical education teacher attached to a school in Canacona said.
The data of retired coaches featured on the SAG website is not confined to just cricket.
In Handball, Conceicao Fernandes, who retired a year back and was given an extension keeping in mind the National Games hosted by Goa last year, also features on the website.
The SAG has not left the dead in peace too. Former Salcete Football Club and Sesa Goa Football Club player Inacio Viegas, a SAG coach hailing from Sao Jose de Areal who died in July 2021, also features in the list of coaches.
Sources in the know informed that some sports lovers and administrators had brought the issue to the notice of SAG Executive Director and also to the Director of Coaching Bruno Coutinho, but nothing has changed in the intervening months since the issue was brought to the notice of the two officials who directly oversee the performance and attendance of the coaches spread across the length of the State.
