The coaching for young footballers is being imparted in such poor conditions that there is a relentless fear for the safety of young children against snake bites and life-threatening injuries, alleged Canacona Sports Academy (CSA) President Janardhar Bhandari.
The Canacona youth blamed Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar for the poor state of affairs in sports in Canacona taluka, alleged Pralay Bhagat a sportsman from Bhagatwada.
According to CSA, Goa Football Development Council (DFDC) has changed the coaching ground from Devabhaga grounds (presently undergoing Renovations) to the Shree Gaitonde (Mini-Sports) Grounds, Chaudi since last April-end, and children are put to great hardships. The mini-sports complex has cemented floor at almost half of the ground, while the rest is full of pebbles and stones/hard rocky soil.
“This is not the only concern, the mini-sport complex which is just facing the Government Office complex also housing offices of Dy. Collector and Mamlatdar, has of late become dangerous for usage, after tall grass has engulfed all over, but unmindful, the coaching for the young footballers is being conducted in the same conditions,” said a coach.
“There is every possibility and danger of snakes crawling amidst the thick grass bushes. What if some of the boys are bitten by snakes? We saw the pitiable condition in which the young footballers are exposed to life threatening situations. Also playing football on a cement/concrete floor is nothing less than inviting serious injuries,” said NSUI president Shubham Komarpant.
“The first thing we did is we tried to contact the Taluka Sports Officer (TSO), but he was not reachable. Then without wasting any more time, we immediately decided to clear and cut the grass and bushes that had engulfed the playing field. While we all assisted Bandari in financing these activities, we are surprised how these sports officials have put the lives of young children in,” added Canacona block Youth Congress president Pralay Bhagat.
GFDC had opened its Centre at Devabhaga Grounds two years ago, but as this ground is taken up for renovation, boys were asked to report at Shri Gaitonde Grounds (mini-Sports complex), Chaudi from April end.
Residents blame Taluka Sports officials and sports minister for overlooking the safety of young footballers undergoing coaching under the aegis of Goa Football Development Council at Canacona.
Speaking to the media, Bhandari sounded very critical of not only the TSO, but blamed Canacona MLA who is the Sports minister for overlooking the sorry state of affairs in his own courtyard.
“Our minister lives a few metres away from this mini-sports complex, and also daily passes by this ground where young footballers are seen regularly practising in miserable conditions. But the minister appears to overlook the state of sports affairs run in his own constituency.
