Recently a 28-year-old footballer from Agali-Fatorda died while playing. It is learned that while playing for a football tournament at Fatorda the youth received a kick on his body and suffered injuries. He collapsed on the ground and was taken to a private hospital in the area. However, he was declared dead. It must be said that if the player was immediately rushed to the hospital, his life could have probably been saved. This emphasizes the importance of having an ambulance stationed near the football ground where a football match is being played. It is observed that there is always a stand-by ambulance outside the stadium whenever a major football tournament or league matches are conducted. But this may not be the case when football is being played at the village level or other minor tournaments. It is pertinent to note that football is a contact sport where a collision between two or more players is the norm. This fact can cause injuries, which, if not given proper treatment in time, can even prove fatal. In Goa, even minor tournaments should be held with proper medical facilities being made available near the ground. The absence of a doctor in the stadium during a match could mean the difference between life and death if a player suffers a serious injury. The presence of an ambulance and a doctor needs to be made mandatory even for football matches played at the village level.
