After the G20 Summit 2023 meetings held in Goa, the state is now decked-up for 37th National Games. In a momentous occasion that marked the culmination of a decade-long dream, the Games were inaugurated by the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium on Thursday.
At this juncture I would like to bring the readers’ attention to the CM’s address to the enthusiastic crowd which thronged the venue to witness this ‘historic’ moment.
“Today, as we witness the beginning of these Games, we take a step closer to making our State equally celebrated for its sporting prowess as it is for its sea and sand. I believe this edition of the National Games will be a great success, providing a perfect platform for our athletes to shine on international stages like the Asian Games, the Commonwealth Games, and the Olympics.”
But not all legislators seem to be sharing his enthusiasm at hosting these Games!
Once again I would like to draw the attention of readers to the Goa Forward Party supremo’s tweet, “GOA JERSEYS DO NOT MAKE #GOEMKARS,” ahead of the Games.
A quintessential Goan should not find any fault with his argument that the sports ministry needs to shift its perspective as it is just not about winning medals. It is about nurturing a sense of pride and achievement among Goans and about celebrating Goan identity through sports and showcasing it to the world.
“For Goans the term ‘Goemkar’ goes beyond a geographical identity; it embodies a cultural and emotional connection to the land and its people. Goa’s identity is just not about picturesque landscapes; it is about the spirit of its inhabitants.”
His tweet definitely carries a poignant message, one that should find concurrence with Goans in general. The legislator’s disappointment with the state of affairs prevalent is quite evident as no leader who has the best interests of his region uppermost in his mind would endorse the practise of recruiting non-Goans to represent the state in various sporting events.
The Ranji trophy in cricket as that best example where ‘imports’ have upstaged the local talent available to ‘usurp’ the right to represent the state in the game of cricket readily comes to one’s mind.
As so rightly said by the MLA, recruiting players from outside Goa might give cause for short-term celebrations but it definitely casts doubt over the authenticity and depth of local talent.
The call for ‘authentic Goan’ representation in sports is a genuine demand that the administration can hardly overlook.
The State government should undoubtedly be envisaging ways to promote local talent and ensure that ‘they receive consistent support, guidance and resources to excel in their chosen sports’.
More than a political ideology, regionalism these days has come to denote an excessive love for one’s region, its language, and its ethnic, cultural, political, or historic aspects.
Politicians, in general, have drawn a line when it comes to regionalism by insisting on the existence of parties that will cater to the local interests of the citizens.
More often than not it is the development of the region that forms the crux of all such thoughts and we have committed leaders from the region taking up cudgels on behalf of the locals to maintain the territory’s exclusive identity.
The last few decades have also witnessed the genesis of a style of activism in Goa that has sought to wake the locals out of a slumber and make them realize the futilities of pandering to the whimsicalities of vested interests responsible for the gradual destruction of the state, its social values and, most importantly, the degradation of its geographical attributes which will mutilate the region beyond recognition very soon.
Besides, when attempts are made to play with the parochial sentiments of people, there are bound to be repercussions. It is extremely difficult for any politician to dwell on matters that have no political bearing and when he has to speak out on matters that he perceives to be an insult to his regional pride.
In search of glory, Goa is definitely subscribing to unethical practises. Talent has to sprout locally and needs to be discovered and groomed for sporting excellence accordingly.
Radical overhauling of sports administration in the state is a must to increase local representation in all games. Nepotism and such other unhealthy exercises need to take a backseat when it comes to team selection.
Locals who have achieved the pinnacle of success in various sporting disciplines validate the fact that there is no dearth of talent in Goa. Yet it is as if various sporting organizations and associations in the State are tasked with ‘grabbing’ so many numbers of medals in a particular event that they are left with no other option but hoarding the team with ‘imports’ who can assure them instant glory.
There have been repeated calls for “India’s gamekeepers at all levels (central & state ministries & national sports federations) to change the way that sports are governed, managed and executed at all levels.”
Goa is not a fledgling sporting state. Many Goans have been acclaimed sportsmen and have garnered national and international fame as well. In such a scenario, would the state need ‘instant’ products to boost its medals tally at any sports meet!
If local talent has to be sacrificed to accommodate ‘imports’ who could ensure a distinctive leap for the state in the final medal table in any event, it is clearly not worthwhile.
The legislator from Fatorda is perfectly right in expressing his anguish over these inconsistencies and the administration should take corrective steps to ensure maximum presence of Goans in the state teams.
