MARGAO
It was Wednesday evening. Thousands of ardent soccer fans from the nook and corner of Goa lined up outside Nehru Stadium, Fatorda to cheer FC Goa against ATK in what was billed as a do-or-die encounter for the local club.
Around 6-7 kilometres away at Davorlim, Sports Minister Babu Ajgaonkar and Sports Authority of Goa executive director V M Prabhudesai virtually threw open a debate of sorts before the Goan football fraternity to introspect on one single question “ why Goa could not churn out footballers of repute in recent times when the State has invested crores of rupees to spruce up football infrastructure across the State.
The duo were clear in their thoughts when they demanded to know from the football administrators how Goa could churn out hundreds of footballers who brought name and glory for the State over the years without much infrastructure when football was being played in the paddy fields and why the State has not found big names in the game despite having 200 playgrounds all over the State.
“Goa had produced sharp shooters such as Roy Barretto and Camilo Gonsalves, who had the ability to score goals from 20-30 metres. Today, we hear names of only Mandar Rao Desai and Romeo Fernandes,” remarked the SAG ED, saying it’s indeed a time for introspection by everyone associated with football, right from the administrators to players and football clubs.
The Sports Minister echoed similar sentiments. He raised a pertinent point that when football supposedly runs in the blood of every Goan, how come players have failed to make a mark in the sport in recent times.
“The Goa Football Development Council, the Sports Authority of Goa, Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, dozens of football clubs, besides the Goa Football Association have all been working to promote football in Goa. Sadly, we haven’t seen many footballers making a mark at the State, national and international level in recent times,” Ajgaonkar stated.
The Sports Minister made a fervent plea to the village clubs to churn out good footballers who can bring glory and name for Goa in the football arena. “The government is spending crores of rupees to boost football infrastructure, but the results have been below our expectations. Churn out good footballers and bring name and glory to Goa,” Ajgaokar exhorted.
