Says personalities expected to participate are ‘amateur sportspersons’
TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
OLD GOA: Barely days after St Andre MLA Vishnu Surya Wagh doubted the possibility of Lusofonia Games in the State given the slow pace of work, another senior BJP leader has also considered the games a “waste of time” for the State to witness “amateur sportspersons” in action.
Stating that he has not been impressed by the Lusofonia Games, NRI Commissioner and BJP Vice President Dr Wilfred Mesquita also opined that the sports personalities expected to participate in the games have “no quality to perform at an international event.”
Dr Mesquita has, however, admitted that the only silver-lining in the games would be the availability of quality sports infrastructure in the State.
“I am not impressed with the (hosting of) Lusofonia Games in the State as these games are a waste of time. All these sports personalities who are coming to take part in the games are all amateur sportspersons, and not regular professionals, who have no quality to perform at an international event. I believe that these sportspersons taking part in the Lusofonia Games in Goa have all got together and are coming for a pastime in Goa to enjoy their holidays,” said Dr Mesquita, while speaking exclusively to Herald.
“For me, Lusofonia per se means nothing in the field of sports as one should bring quality sports, which is not there in these games. Since the Lusofonia Games was a commitment by the previous Congress government, it is being fulfilled by our present government. It is better if they are not held, as no one would be a loser and sports activities won’t stop in the State.”
Asked to justify the growing voices of dissent within his party regarding the Lusofonia Games, Dr Mesquita replied: “See, when you take part in sports, you should compete with sportspersons who are either equal or better than you. I do believe that those sportspersons taking part in the Lusofonia Games do not have quality in them and some of them are not better than our own sportspersons in the State. If anyone can claim that these visiting sportspersons are better than our own, then our sports associations have to undertake a serious study on these issues.”
Dr Mesquita also equated the Lusofonia Games to that of a state-level performance and felt that Goan sportspersons would do well at such games.
“If there are no teams of international standards competing in games like football, volleyball and table tennis, which are very popular in Goa, then the Lusofonia Games will not have much impact in Goa.”
Despite his criticism of the games, Dr Mesquita admitted that Goans may only gain from quality sports infrastructure that is being set up in the State.
