Is the game really beautiful in Goa?
Football is the heartbeat of the State and was declared as the official Sport of the State by the late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar way back in 2012. And, although the players have the skills and abilities, there has been a decline with the Indian national team. Indian Super League (ISL) is Goa’s only representative in the country.
Goa Football Association (GFA) has around 186 clubs registered with more than 5,000 players but due to the lack of future many footballers hang their boots.
Speaking to Herald, GFA General Secretary Jovito Lopes said, “There are various reasons for the decline in the number of Goans with the National team but one of the most important reasons is the lesser number of Goan teams in the I-League”.
“I-League is the platform at an all-India level wherein youngsters get a chance to compete with the best out of the best. Withdrawal by three local teams from the I-League has deprived local players from exposing their talent at the high levels of football”, he added.
When asked about GFA’s plan over the issue, Jovito said, “There is a need to revamp the entire working culture in the Association. A strategic plan needs to be in place in the absence of Goan players not making at the national level/team”.
“Adopting new ways and methods and in-depth analysis will also help in solving the issue. There is also a need to strengthen the youth development programme”, he concluded.
It may be recalled that Churchill Brothers managed to finish fourth in the 2018-19 season.
However the only good news last year was FC Goa winning the Super Cup, the first trophy since its formation in 2014, and reaching the final of Indian Super League.
A big bouncer!
Cricket in Goa is also in a bad shape with the Ranji team losing seven matches and drawing two last year. They finished at the bottom of the Elite C group and were relegated to Plate Division.
Playing with the minnows this year, Goa won three out of the four matches and drew one. They are also in the second position with 23 points, under the watchful eyes of Coach Dodda Ganesh.
Speaking on the issue, Goa Cricket Association (GCA) Secretary Vipul Fadke said, “We are making our best efforts to make it better but because of the small season, the players get less practice time. There is a need to take policy decisions and also the off season practice need to be increased with a better way.”
“Compared to last year, this year’s performance in Ranji is much better as we have included young players in the team. We have two more matches ahead, which are very crucial and our efforts are to win both and make it to the Elite group again,” he added.
With regards to the practice grounds for the players, Vipul informed that GCA is in the process of building a stadium at Dhargal and that they are also in talks with various panchayats across the State for small grounds for practice.
“We have got the land in Dhargal and we are in the process of building a stadium but this will not be the only plus point for the players. We need to have smaller/practice grounds across the State for which we are trying to sign MoUs with the panchayats/municipalities with those having ground or a land which GCA can develop”, he concluded.
Squash = Yash in Goa!
This is one sport, which is known in Goa only because of Yash Fadte. Currently seeded fifth in the World, Yash has won every major Squash event in the country and also brought international laurels.
However, as much as the young lad has been successful, his father has been vocal about the problems and hardship they have faced. Despite these hurdles and lack of support from the government or authorities, Yash has not lost his focus on the sport.
However, they aren’t happy with the state of affairs.
Yash’s only support – his father Dilip Fadte added, “Yash has received nothing from the association or from the government. We are training on our own, and I have been continuously saying that in Goa, sports haven’t been favoured much. The ones who can afford to spend on their kids (for their training and nutrition) should get into sports or else they shouldn’t as the authorities concerned aren’t supportive at all.”
There aren’t any quality squash courts around and Yash has been forced to train at a private squash court and often travels to Mumbai for match trainings and to train with other quality players.
“We spend a lot on his training but frankly speaking we receive nothing. In Goa, a National winner is awarded Rs 10,000 which is a mere amount. Firstly, to prepare a champion itself, is a lot of expense and then the amount received from the State isn’t enough. It’s like a joke,” added Fadte.
“Yash has sacrificed a lot and I feel after winning, he should be rewarded well. There are many more individual players in other sports who have given their all and today they have quit the sport and are concentrating in other fields, only because of the lack of support from the authority concerned.
Fadte stressed that the government should promote and help sporting talents who are capable of making the State proud.
However, if the scenario continues, Yash might be the last player in the State, considering the authority’s attitude towards the sport.
Masterminds for a cause
The scenario isn’t the same here. This is one of the fields, which has excelled over the years and produced many stars and still counting. In 2017, Anurag Mhamal became Goa’s first Grandmaster (GM) and Goa Chess Association believes there are more to expect in coming years. Leon Mendonca is next in line for the GM title while Diya Sawal’s National triumph in the U-8 category is another proof for their progressive growth.
“I think our chess association is heading in the right direction under the leadership of GCA President Nilesh Cabral. Though our State association is doing a good job, I am proud and delighted with the independent taluka associations, which are active and are constantly providing opportunities to young chess players,” explained Goa Chess Association Secretary Kishor Bandekar.
Unlike other sports, Chess sharpens the minds and stresses more on education. Though the chess players are growing in numbers, there are many who have taken a break from the sport and one such example is Ivana Furtado.
However, the secretary stressed, “Chess is a lifestyle and we promote education and most of our players are toppers and are excellent at academics. We are happy that the players are concentrating on their education and they can always make a comeback at any age,” quipped Kishor, while elaborating about his return back to the sport at a very late.
Chess association is one of the most active bodies in the State and ‘Chess in school’ is one of their unique concepts which have been designed to promote chess from a very young age.
“Grandmasters event was a huge success and this event will be benchmark for us and a platform for our Goan players to play and gain experience battling against top players across India and abroad,” concluded Kishor.
