The Bandodkar football grounds, the only football ground in the capital city, has become nobody’s child as none in the government seem to have any clue of what lies in the future for this historic place except that the SAG is collecting hefty revenue from shows and festivals.
The former chief minister Manohar Parrikar, before moving to Delhi as Defence Minister, cleared the file for a new football ground at Parade grounds in Panjim but the fate of this historic place hangs in balance.
For now, nobody has clear cut answers of what would be the future as the government has already decided that a football stadium is not feasible at this ground due to limited space.
Parrikar had demolished the historic Dayanand Bandodkar Stadium at Campal in 2004 to make space for parking during the Film International Festival of India (IFFI).
The Campal stadium has a huge history behind it with some of the best footballers who donned Goan and Indian colours being groomed and played here. He had also promised to construct a new stadium though it may have taken years he did fulfill his promise before leaving Goa.
The Dayanand Bandodkar Stadium was demolished in the year 2002 with an assurance that it would be rebuilt within a span of 2 years. Nearly a decade has gone by but a new stadium has not yet come in its place.
The place is now has merely remained place for exhibition, rock shows and festivals. What more, when this reporter tried to inquire what the fate of the erstwhile ground? The answers were vague.
While the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs says the ground is maintained by the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG), SAG officials say they are only maintaining it and the possession is with DSYA.
“Yes we are maintaining the ground and renting it for exhibition etc as per government decision, but the owners of the ground are DSYA,” SAG Executive Director Sandip Jacques told Herald.
DSYA Director Vasant Mohan Prabhudesai when contacted said admitted they are owners but is maintained by SAG.
Herald inquiries revealed that the ground will be transferred to the Department of Art and Culture for expansion of Kala Academy.
However, when this question was posed to Prabhudesai he offered no comments. “I know the land would be transferred to Art and Culture but don’t know the details,” he replied.
Officials in the government, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the government also plans to have a park for senior citizens at the place.
Dr Rufino Monteiro, who led the Panjim Citizens in demanding the restoration of Bandodkar ground, said he has no clue of the would happen to the old stadium.
Rent of almost a lakh a day
While the footballing activities have come to a complete standstill at the old Bandodkar ground, it has now become a place for exhibitions, shows and festivals including the wine festival.
Some of the festivals which are hosted at the place are Goa Food and Cultural festival, Grape escapades (wine festival), Lokotsav festival, International Trade Fair, dog shows and rock shows.
Moreover, the SAG is earning huge amount from renting out the places.
Sources in the SAG told Herald that the authority is charging Rs 80,000 per day for a exhibition besides 14 per cent Service Tax and 10 per cent Luxury tax, which comes to Rs 1 lakh a day.
However, Football lovers in the state have written to the Goa governor Mridula Sinha asking her to ensure that the open space at the Dayanand Bandodkar Campal ground be reserved for football instead of being used for commercial activities, as is currently the practice.
A 5000-capacity football Stadium at Parade ground
While there is no word on the future of Bandodkar ground, the BJP government has approved a 5000-capacity new football stadium at the existing Parade ground in Campal.
The stadium to be built on a 37,000 sq mt land will cost around 30 crores withy flood lights etc, sources in GSUDA say.
The new stadium will have two dressing rooms, team lounge, first aid, dining area for teams, locker rooms, media centre, anti-doping room, press conference room, four corporate boxes, TV broadcast control room and camera platforms. It will also have restaurants, cafeterias and public amenities.
