MARGAO
The glitz, glamour and the newly-found optimism present a positive picture of Goan sports. But behind the thin veneer of hopefulness remain the age-old issues -- lack of serious approach in developing sports and the unprofessional organising of the National Games - that continue to be stumbling block for the sport’s growth in the State.
While fans dream about brighter days, administrators are yet not ready to address the real issues. One glaring problem is that the National Games is shifted to Gujarat
"Goa needs a good policy to raise the standards of our sports and bring it on par with national and international levels. Principal infrastructure is there, over the years the government has done well to build many new stadiums but still, when it comes to sporting success, we are lagging behind on several parameters. Lusofonia Games came to Goa a few years back but how did it benefit Goa? Crores were spent. Similarly, National Games would have met similar fate, crores spent but not enough proportional benefits to Goa," said Sandeep Heble, secretary of Goa Badminton Association.
"So the shifting / postponement is actually a blessing in disguise. It gives Goa opportunity to build a whole new sporting culture, creating career options in sports, jobs, incentives, sports tourism boom, sports business opportunities etc. A sporting revolution in Goa, and the National Games must go hand-in-hand. Otherwise, Games hosting has no meaning. We now have a few more years to plan," Heble added.
"Though it is to the eternal shame of Goa, this decision to shift the Games out of Goa, is certainly in the interest of sportspersons in the country and should have come much earlier. A generation of sportspersons lost out for lack of a platform to perform, due to failure of Goa to host the Games even within the extended time," said Elvis Gomes, former president of Goa Football Association.
"Go back in time and one will see that Lusofonia Games were bagged on the basis of Goa being a venue for National Games. IOA with its inherent problems, has a habit of eternally waiting. ACOLOP (Lusofonia Games Committee) didn’t and I had taken the responsibility given by Manohar Parrikar to work on it. Lusofonia Games not only were made possible but rather preceded the National Games which never happened even 10 years later.
"Though the move to go out of Goa is good for sports and sportspersons, Goa has been let down by the powers that be, although the present Sports Minister was trying a little too late," Gomes added.
"It's extremely sad... What else can I say. They have been postponed many times in the past seeking more time but now finally they have been shifted," Armando Colaco, former India coach, said. "Goa would have been better. People in Goa need this the more because it’s been a long time we had such an event," said Alvito D'Cunha, former India and East Bengal midfielder.
Dixon Vaz, the owner of La Cuisne Cavelossim, termed the shifting as a good decision. "it's a good decision as we are not fully prepared with the infrastructure. We are facing a lot of financial difficulties, therefore it's a wise decision to shift the Games."
