MAPUSA
Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte berated the sports administrators for falling short in doing enough for budding sports talent and failing to promote individual sports in the State.
Khaunte, however, had words of praise for Sports Minister Manohar Azgaonkar who he felt had the capability to do course correction.
“If a Goan youth wants to make a career in sports then the people manning the sports department have to learn the A, B, C…of sports. These officials know to take care of themselves but they do not support the minister,” Khaunte hit out.
The revenue minister was speaking during the congratulatory motion in the Assembly in favour of Yash Fadte, a Goan lad, who won the Under-17 squash tournament in the US.
The victory in US made Yash the No 1 Squash player in Asia.
Kaunte said Yash had to personally make a lot of sacrifices to gain the achievement but besides that the father of the boy had to also invest a lot of resources to train him.
“The boy and his family needs support. He needs a proper eco-system to harness his talent. I am beginning to worry whether the lower-rung sports administrators know about sports,” he said.
He said many sometimes have to compromise on education to make a career out of sports.
“Yash is Asia’s No 1 with not government support. I will say the sports administrators are responsible for the state of affairs, not the minister,” he said.
“I know the sports minister will look at recognising the sport. He will look at recognising the person and taking things ahead…The major issue is the sports department is in the right hands but not in the right place,” Khaunte said.
The revenue minister suggested to the minister to form a task force to promote individual sports like boxing, swimming or squash.
“In this task force you (sports minister) should be the chairman. You take the call and implement the decisions,” he said.
Sports Minister Manohar Azgoankar said government wanted both education and sports should move together and asked the sports administrators to buck up.
Acclaiming the achievement of the young lad, Khaunte said that the boy’s family has a sports background. “I know Yash’s uncle, Namdev Fadte, who was an excellent cricketer. Since he did not get an opportunity in Goa he had to go abroad,” he said.
The congratulatory motion was moved by Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral and Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida.
Panchayat Minister, Mauvin Godinho and Tivim MLA, Nilkant Halarnkar also spoke on the motion.
