Young footballers training at the venue forced to train on grounds with concrete and rocky patches. Besides, certain areas of the field is covered with tall grass exposing the kids to severe threat of snake bites and life-threatening injuries, alleges Canacona Sports Academy (CSA) President Janardhar Bhandari
THE GOAN NETWORK
CANACONA
The Canacona facilitity of Goa Football Development Centre (GFDC) is literally in shambles if one goes by the allegations made by Canacona Sports Academy (CSA) President Janardhar Bhandari.
Speaking to The Goan, Bhandari alleged that young footballers being training at the venue are enduring poor conditions and also facing severe threat of snake bites and life-threatening injuries.
According to CSA, GFDC has changed the coaching ground from Devabhaga grounds (presently undergoing renovation) to the Shri Gaitonde Mini-Sports Complex in Chaudi since last April-end, and children are being forced face great hardships. It's been found that the minisports complex has cemented floor raised well above the ground level, while the rest of the area where kids train is filled with pebbles and stones and generally has hard and rocky soil.
"This is not the only concern, the mini-sport complex which is just facing the government office complex also houses offices of Dy. Collector and Mamlatdar and has of late become dangerous for football as a heavy weed cover has engulfed the entire area and unmindfully coaching sessions for young footballers is being conducted in such deplorable conditions," alleged Bhandari, adding: "There is every possibility and danger of snakes crawling amidst the thick grass bushes, and what if some of the boys are bitten by a deadly snake? We, saw the pitiable condition in which the young footballers are being exposed to life threatening measures, as also playing football on a concrete ground is nothing less than inviting serious injuries."
NSUI President Shubham Komarpant, who accompanied Bhandari informed, "The first thing we did is we tried to contact the Taluka Sports Officer(TSO), but was found not reachable. Then without wasting any time, we immediately decided to clear and cut the grass and bushes that has engulfed the playing field."
Even,Canacona block Youth Congress President Pralay Bhagat expressed his concerns. "We are surprised how these sports officials has put the lives of young children in jeopardy."
GFDC opened its Centre at Devabhaga Grounds two years ago, but as this ground is taken up for renovation, boys were asked to report at Shri Gaitonde Grounds (mini-Sports complex), Chaudi since end of April last.
Residents blames Taluka Sports officials and Sports Minister for overlooking the safety of young footballers undergoing coaching under the aegis of Goa Football Development Council at Canacona.
Speaking to the media, Bhandari sounded very critical of not only TSO, but blamed Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar who is also the sports minister, for overlooking the sorry state of affairs in his own backyard. "Our minister lives a few metres away from this mini-sports complex, and also passes across this ground daily where young footballers are seen regularly practicing in miserable conditions. But the minister seems to have preferred to overlook the sorry state of affairs in his own constituency.
"These footballers, who are playing at the under 14 level have defeated some of the best teams and are the future of Canacona football. These boys do not have toilet facilities nor even water to drink during practice sessions. Such is the state of sports affairs in the home constituency of Sports Minister," lamented Bhandari.
