MARGAO: Velim MLA Cruz Silva has urged the state government to immediately complete the various sports projects in his constituency which are in the various stages of construction on a speedy basis so that sports persons of the locality can use them and bring sporting glory to the state and the nation.
Silva said the work on the Tollecanto ground in Velim village has been dragging on for the last eight years, he said while speaking during a discussion in the ongoing Assembly Session.
“Although the structure of the building is complete and was inaugurated a year back, a lot of work needs to be done so that the ground is fit for sporting activity,” said Cruz.
Emphasizing further he said that the Velim ground is the best sports complex after the Fatorda Stadium in terms of facilities like seating capacity and parking space.
“The ground has been constructed at the cost of Rs 19 crores and I think it is the best stadium in South Goa. It has a spectator seating capacity of 5000 and a good parking facility for fans.”
He however said that for the ground to be fully operational for sports activities a lot of work needs to be carried out and urged the government to carry out the work on an urgent footing.
“For the ground to be used for sports, a turf surface is needed besides other facilities that need to be added inside the ground. Now only the outer structure in the form of building exists,” he said while giving an update on the present status of the ground.
“A lot of children of the area were very enthusiastic about the inauguration of the ground and are looking forward to the immediate completion and inauguration of the ground for sporting activities,” he added, while demanding the pending work be completed before the current year.
The AAP MLA also demanded that various sports complexes in Velim constituency, which pose a danger for spectators and players alike, should be immediately repaired on a war footing.
The Sports Authority of Goa ground in Assolna needs urgent repairs, he said and urged the Sports Minister to make an urgent inspection of the ground.
“The SAG ground in Assolna is in bad shape. The compound wall has collapsed. The dressing rooms need repair and the stands are in the danger of collapsing,” Silva said while demanding that immediate repairs and renovation is needed.
Silva touched many sports issues plaguing his constituency and also complimented the Sports Minister for completing a few grounds, which have been pending for the last few years.
“I thank the Sports Minister for completing and inaugurating the Sirlim ground which was pending for the last 15 years,” he said.
“In Sao Jose de Areal, work on the sports ground, the foundation stone which was laid two years back is going at a slow pace.”
“If the work of completing the football ground takes 15 years, then people who are playing football will be discouraged by the lack of ground and move elsewhere and forget about playing football,” he warned.
“Sao Jose de Areal has a lot of football potential and produced a lot of football players and they love football,” he said while urging the Sports Minister to complete the ground this year.
Refers to July 29 report in The Goan “Dead, retd coaches still call shots on SAG website” demands that the SAG website to be updated.
Silva referred to the July 29 report in The Goan “Dead, retd coaches still call shots on SAG website” and demanded that the SAG website be updated immediately.
He also demanded that government appoint new coaches as he said the average age of the SAG coaches now stands at 50 years
“Government should appoint more coaches, young coaches to infuse new blood,” he said
He also demanded the appointment of coaches in hockey in Chinchinim and Velim villages to take care of the sporting needs of the schools in the locality.
“Mount Mary HS Chinchinim and St Xavier HS Velim are two schools which have hockey equipment but need hockey coaches. I urge the Sports Minister to appoint coaches,” he said.
On his part Cruz has been promoting different sports in the constituency including hockey.
“I have given sports equipment from my own personal funds for the schools to buy hockey equipment,” said the velim MLA, while talking to The Goan.
Asked if he got any equipment from Goans Hockey to be distributed among the schools in Velim constituency he replied in the negative.
Incidentally, in the last academic year, Cuncolim-resident Glestone Fernandes had been coaching a few schools in Cuncolim, Chinchinim and Velim, including the St Xavier HS Velim.
“Regular hockey coaching will resume after the rainy season, including in Cuncolim and St Xavier HS Velim,” informed Glestone, while talking to The Goan.
