Team Herald
PANJIM: When contacted Goa Swimming Association Secretary Sayed Abdul Majid, “I really don’t understand why a certain sect of people always create unnecessary problems. My priority was to get the young swimmers back to the swimming pool so that their training isn’t affected. So we made a recommendation of the two coaches to the SAG and the appointment was made by them,”
Mapusa Swimming Centre swimmers have consistently been among the medal winners in the last 3 years in most of the swimming meets organised by the Swimming Federation of India, School Games Federation of India and Khelo India.
When asked about Ganguly’s appointment, Sayed clarified that Ganguly was appointed as coach but was on consultancy basis and when the molestation incident came to light he was terminated from his services.
“We aren’t protecting anyone. If molestation had happened in the premises we could have done something. But the incident occurred somewhere else. Still we ensured that the kids are safe and we had called up a meeting of all the parents and I personally asked them if their kids had encountered or were victims of any such incidences during their coaching and I was happy that none encountered any problems during their training,” explained Sayed.
When asked about the Ganguly’s fee, Sayed stated, “Most of the swimmers train for nearly 4 to 5 hours i.e two session (morning & evening) along with parallel sessions of yoga, gym and core building.”
Sayed stated that there are certain people with vested interest who are trying to malign our image but GSA are a proper association and said, “We are a proper association and this is the third year of functioning. We are maintaining proper minutes’ books, have submitted documents to SAG and Society and are adhering to all the procedures. If we weren’t functioning properly, no organisation would have accepted us or would have supported us.
“I would like to thank our Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Executive Director VM Prabhudesai and Digambar Kamat for initiating the process and getting us a coach and an assistant coach and giving the young swimmers a chance to train once again,” concluded Sayed.
