MARGAO
The Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) have handed the organistaion of the National Games events lock, stock and barrel to different public relations firms and other companies to conduct the multi-discipline event, which is very much evident on the ground with many an official of SAG missing from the thick of action.
Take the case of Fatorda Stadium which is hosting the men’s football matches and which on October 26 hosted the opening ceremony of the Games, the function which was graced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
No officer worth his or her name was available to answer the media queries and understand first-hand the difficulties media personnel faced in discharging their duties effectively while the matches were going on. More off-field drama was in store when the match action got over and the reporters waited anxiously for the two coaches to come to the designated media press conferences. It was expected that the SAG officials would escort the coaches to a press conference, but that did not happen.
Many of the officials deputed for non-media duties had no clue of the protocol, formalities and responsibilities post-match and although a Commandant from the Goa government has been posted at each of the venues, he too was not aware of the formalities of a post-match conference and thus was left stumped.
It was only due to the special efforts of Adlear D’Cruz, the former general secretary of Goa Football Association that the two coaches were able to talk and interact with the media, with no official of SAG in sight. According to football regulations, if football officials do not turn up for post-match press conferences they are handed punishments but here was a situation which was not the officials committing the offence but it was a folly on the part of the organisers.
Sources also informed GFA President Dr Caitano Fernandes was not accorded any seat in the VVIP gallery, when protocol demanded so. He watched the action sitting in one of the stands as a spectator.
The only people who were seen constantly on their toes were physical education teachers from Government College, Quepem and Cuncolim Educational Society College, Cuncolim. Aiding the duo were a band of dedicated college students from the two institutions, while the presence of other volunteers from other organisations was not to be seen.
The few fans who made it to the stadium had difficulty finding the gate to enter the stadium. The West Stand main gate was a no-go for the fans but no volunteers were present to guide them and show them the entry points, with only the security and policemen present inside the gates doing their customary security drills while allowing fans to enter the stadium.
