Porvorim: Minister for Sport and Youth Affairs Manohar (Babu) Azgaonkar said that international cricket stadium with the capacity of accommodating 50,000 people would be built at Dhargalim on land, which had been acquired for sports city.
The Minister replying on sports and youth affairs on the Floor of the House on Tuesday said the sport city project had been scrapped and at the same venue an international cricket stadium would be constructed within the next two years.
He said that the national games would be held in 2018 and talks with the Indian Olympic Association and sports ministry were on, adding that the Chief Minister was constantly pursuing the matter with the concerned minister to ensure that the event takes place in 2018.
The minister said that sports ministry did not have enough budget to provide grounds and swimming pools in each and every constituency, as demanded by the members, but emphasised that the state had good facilities.
He informed the House that there were140 coaches with the Sport Authority of Goa and 10 with the department of sports. The minister said the department would soon absorb 20 more coaches to strengthen trainings.
Goa Football Development Council (GFDC) has 112 coaches that provide training to 5,000 players everyday in the state.
